San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan entered Super Bowl LIV carrying scars from his last trip to the NFL title game in 2017. He was determined to rewrite his football legacy and erase memories of 28-3.
Instead, the play-caller suffered another Super Bowl collapse, this time after leading 20-10 against the Kansas City Chiefs in the fourth quarter.
With the Shanahan bashing out in full force on Monday, Mike Silver of NFL Network remains confident that the 49ers coach will prove himself to his doubters soon rather than later.
Silver said on NFL Network that Shanahan was emotionally "gutted" after once again coming so close to winning a championship and having the game unravel. Run-game coordinator Mike McDaniel texted Silver as the team was boarding its buses at Hard Rock Stadium after the loss and said Shanahan did a great job of leading and supporting his team after the heartbreaking defeat.
"I know Kyle Shanahan will bounce back as a hard worker, as a great strategist, as a guy who will game plan his way to excellence year in and year out," Silver said during The Aftermath. "What I think we saw last night was his development as a true leader. And I think someday, just as we're writing the Andy Reid redemptive story ... I think there's a Kyle Shanahan one to be written sooner rather than later."
Yes. Horrible year for the Niners. They lost three games on the final play and came within six minutes of winning a championship. Total sham of an operation. 🤦🏻♂️ https://t.co/6ih5DLl3Z3
— Michael Silver (@MikeSilver) February 3, 2020
Yes. Horrible year for the Niners. They lost three games on the final play and came within six minutes of winning a championship. Total sham of an operation. 🤦🏻♂️ https://t.co/6ih5DLl3Z3
— Michael Silver (@MikeSilver) February 3, 2020
Silver was there at Hard Rock Stadium to witness the Chiefs' first championship in 50 years, and to see how Shanahan, someone he has known since the coach was 15 years old, would react.
Shanahan appeared disappointed during his post-game press conference, yet he answered the questions asked of him — as he always does. Once he left, though, the 49ers coach was understandably upset, according to Silver's feature for NFL.com.
Upset at his game management? The play calling? The officiating? All of the above?
At that point, it didn't matter.
"I'm OK," Shanahan told Silver. "We'll bounce back. We'll get it done."
