There were reports that offensive tackle Trent Williams came close — very close — to signing with the Kansas City Chiefs. He even had star quarterback Patrick Mahomes trying to recruit him.
"I had good conversations with people in that organization, and they made a good push," Williams said. "... I always told Kyle (Shanahan) from day one that if I was gonna go anywhere, I would call him first, and let him know what the matter was.
"Once I got the hunch that KC seemed like they was ready to make it official, I called Kyle. I couldn't even really get it out and just tell him. But I was just like, 'Hey man, we just need to hurry this up, if you get my drift. Tell Paraag (Marathe) to (do) whatever they got to do, but tell him and (John) Lynch to work something out because I'm kind of ready to make my decision. So, I would like for everything to be on the table.'"
Williams was giving the 49ers the right to match any competing offers. After all, that's where the offensive lineman ultimately wanted to end up. However, he also wanted to ensure he received the best possible deal.
Williams was at a restaurant in Houston called Thirteen—a new joint venture between James Harden and Williams' friend—when he texted Shanahan to let him know that a decision was imminent. The coach immediately called him back via FaceTime. It was too loud in the restaurant, so the two waited about 10 minutes and spoke outside—again, via FaceTime, which Williams says is the coach's preferred method of communication.
"We had a good talk," Williams said. "I think I went back in, ate dinner, and by the time I literally got my keys from valet and sat in the car, my agent was calling me, telling me the deal was done. So it didn't take more than about an hour or so."
"Faithful, I'm back."
Let's go @TrentW71! #FTTB pic.twitter.com/fh4fOUdd03
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) March 24, 2021
Needless to say that Williams was ecstatic about the development. He landed a record-breaking deal that keeps him with Shanahan for the foreseeable future.
The offensive tackle is close with the Shanahan family. Twenty-four hours before the start of free agency, he was hanging out in Cabo San Lucas with the coach's father, Mike Shanahan. It wasn't an attempt to close a deal. The two never even discussed free agency. They just talked football and caught up with each other.
Kyle Shanahan didn't need to make a sales pitch, though.
"Kyle, he's like family to me," Williams shared. "His family is like family to me. ... Kyle didn't have to sell anything to me. I already knew what this place has to offer. I knew what he has to offer. And I knew what the front office had to offer."
Williams was asked about the emotions of learning that he would remain with the 49ers, the team that traded for him during last year's draft and got him out of an unappealing situation with the Washington Football Team.
"It was a surreal feeling," Williams said. "It took a little over a day or two just to even sink in, honestly."