Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan addressed the media on Thursday and discussed the reports of him becoming the next head coach of the San Francisco 49ers. While he acknowledged that there was mutual interest, Shanahan reminded everyone that nothing is official.
Nothing can become official until the Falcons are done with their playoff run. That could be as early as this Sunday or as late as February 5 after the Super Bowl. Regardless of Sunday's outcome, Shanahan will meet with the 49ers next week. If the Falcons win on Sunday against the Green Bay Packers, they will enjoy a bye week leading up to the Super Bowl. If they lose, the 49ers can hire Shanahan immediately.
"With my situation outside of this week, I'm definitely excited about that," Shanahan said on Thursday. "But it's not really something that I know what the situation is right now. The way the NFL makes these rules and the way it is – this is my first time going through it – now seeing how the rules are, I see why it is this way. It makes it pretty easy for us. You know, you're only allowed to talk to teams when you do have a bye week. I got that opportunity a couple of weeks ago.
"Regardless of what happens in this game, win or lose, you can talk to them again when your season's over or if you get another bye week. So I think I'll get that opportunity next week. But whatever happens, I plan on doing that. But besides that, the NFL keeps it pretty simple for you because you're not really allowed to talk. You can't really go there one way or another. So I'm looking forward to having those conversations next week. But really until then, I really don't have much else for you guys. It makes it very easy to focus on the thing that's most important and that's Sunday."
Shanahan: Coaching Opportunity Not a Distraction
Is there an offer on the table between the 49ers and Shanahan? The coordinator denied that there is. "I think there is some interest, obviously," Shanahan said. "I thought that in my interview a couple of weeks ago. Looking forward to the chance where you can speak to people again but it's a pretty good situation to be in as far as where our team is at right now. This is the coolest moment I've had in my career, being in a game like this. I used to think that the rules weren't that cool. I love the rules because it makes it very simple for me. It's cut and dry. You don't have an option."
Friends and family have been asking Shanahan about the job with the 49ers. "I'm in my office looking at film all day and there's nothing I'm allowed to do about it," he said. "I think I'll have an idea of that after the game. I don't know what day that will be, whether it's Monday or the following week. I'm not sure. And right now, I truly don't care."
Are all of these reports a distraction for Shanahan, who is trying to stay focused on winning a Super Bowl? "There's nothing to be distracted about," Shanahan responded. "You can put that aside, totally focus on right here and right now. That's not tough to do. This is an opportunity that I personally, as a coach, I've wanted to win a playoff game my entire career and got to do that last week. Right now, that we have a chance to play for a Super Bowl is pretty much what's consuming my mind. It's something we're enjoying and not going to miss this opportunity."
