The San Francisco 49ers' strategy on addressing recent events surrounding social injustice and systemic discrimination started exactly where it should have — with discussion. Head coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters last week that he and team decision-makers felt it was important to talk about the issues with the players.
"Not one day's gone by where we haven't discussed it," Shanahan said.
The coach used each position group's Zoom meetings last week as an opportunity to get a feel for what was going through his players' minds. Then, later in the week, he and general manager John Lynch organized a call with about a dozen team veterans and leaders and talked some more.
"It's been great just being able for all of us to talk about," Shanahan continued. "As I always say, we've got an impressive group of guys, and they've been very impressive throughout this whole situation, and it's been very open, and it's been good to hear all of them through all this."
Shanahan went on to speak genuinely and passionately against racism and the social injustices that continue to plague our nation. That's one of the aspects of the 49ers that veteran cornerback Richard Sherman loves and respects. From the top-down, the team seems to genuinely care about its players and finding ways to help create change, not only locally, but nationally.
49ers CEO Jed York even pledged $1 million toward local and national organizations that are working to create that change. That comes after the team donated $1 million in 2016 to two organizations striving to address various social inequalities.
Sherman spoke with reporters on Wednesday via a Zoom conference call and was asked about the discussions he and his teammates had with the 49ers coaches and executives.
"There were tons of positives to take away," Sherman said. "It's great to just see how much they care, how much Kyle and John and (EVP of football operations) Paraag (Marathe) and this organization, Jed, care about these issues.
"A lot has been made about them throwing money at the issue. But I think there's a lot more at the foundation level that has been done by not only our coaching staff, but our players, our front office, our ownership to really make a difference and make a change in this world. I think there was growth in that conversation."
Sherman said that all of the team leaders shared their opinions. Several players have been very vocal on social media, too, sharing their thoughts and retweeting relevant posts. Fourth-year wide receiver Kendrick Bourne even addressed the crowd at a protest and rally in Milpitas, California, over the weekend.
"I might be the one that makes other players put themselves out there," Bourne told the crowd. "... All the stuff that's been going on, it's just really scary out here. Everybody, keep the faith. Know change is going to come. I know it's going to come."
Bourne kneeled at the end of his speech, mimicking the way former 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick peacefully protested before games in 2016, his last season in the NFL. The crowd responded by kneeling themselves.
Bourne later shared that he supports the idea that an NFL team should finally sign the quarterback.
"I think, at the end of the day, I don't see our team as the issue," Sherman continued. "Our team is a bunch of guys who come from a ton of different places, who get along very well, who don't see color lines like that, who don't treat each other that way.
"And I think, at the end of the day, it's about spreading that love and about spreading that impact, and I think it (the discussions) was powerful."
