What are the San Francisco 49ers players to do while isolated in their hotel rooms for at least a few weeks following a move to Arizona? Some brought game systems, like XBOX and Playstation consoles. Other than practices and Zoom meetings, that could be the limit of their interactions with one another.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan has explained that the team is essentially in a bubble. However, outside of those team-organized activities, they are encouraged to remain in their rooms and not socialize. After all, the team has gone from one COVID-19-ravaged county to another that is in an even worse situation. The difference is that NFL games and practices are allowed in Maricopa County, which isn't the case anymore in Santa Clara County.
So video games it is for those who enjoy partaking in the activity. That, apparently, does not include quarterback Nick Mullens.
"During the season, I'm not a huge video game guy," Mullens told reporters on Thursday, "but I know that we have a solid crowd on our team that does like the Xbox and PlayStation. So yeah, I'm sure there's some guys who brought the systems and are definitely going to find a way to pass their time that way."
Head coach Kyle Shanahan also doesn't have a whole lot of time for video games. He hasn't for some time. Although, he did recently try to play one beloved series with his kids.
"Honestly, the first time in about eight years that I've even got on a video game was during out bye week (this season)," Shanahan said Friday morning on KNBR's Murph & Mac show. "My kids are really starting to get into it. I used to play Halo when I was in college. Halo and Madden were the only two ones I played.
"But I got the Halo on it for them on the XBOX. I couldn't. My eight-year-old daughter killed me. She had some skills, and I definitely don't have it anymore."
Added Shanahan after laughing: "I couldn't believe it. And she just learned how to do it. And after I was dead, she kept hitting me and shooting me. She rubbed it in."
Good job, Lexi.
What about Madden NFL? His kids aren't too into the football series. The Shanahan kids do own the game, but mostly so they can make fun of how the digital version of their dad looks.
You can listen to the entire conversation with Shanahan below.
