On the "This is Football" podcast, host Kevin Clark asked former Colts and Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning which current NFL coach he'd love to play for. Without much hesitation, the Hall-of-Famer said "I'm probably headed out to San Francisco to play for Kyle Shanahan."
Manning cites his 2012 free agent meeting with the Washington Commanders and then-offensive coordinator Shanahan. He says the two watched film together for two hours and Manning came away "extremely impressed".
I asked Peyton Manning: If he could play for a modern NFL coach, who would it be?
— Kevin Clark (@bykevinclark) January 9, 2024
"I'm probably headed out to San Francisco." Peyton watched *two hours* of film with Kyle Shanahan in 2012 during his free agency. This breakdown is so good. THIS IS FOOTBALL is elite today. pic.twitter.com/U39xc0vWx8
Ultimately, Manning went on to sign with the Denver Broncos in the 2012 offseason—a memory that 49ers fans remember all too well. Perhaps if the 49ers had Kyle Shanahan back then, it would have turned down differently. Could you imagine the stats those two would put up?