During the interview process last year, Shanahan was brutally honest, which was a trait that York would come to appreciate. York asked Shanahan what he thought about the state of the 49ers at the time, and the then-Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator didn't pull any punches.
"It wasn't very complimentary," York said of Shanahan's response.
The 49ers CEO said he knew within the first five minutes of the interview that he would always get an honest answer out of Shanahan.
"You can see how some people would take that the wrong way," York told Maiocco. "For me, I just want direct feedback from the coach. You're probably the most important person in the organization. We have to be on the same page. I have to know exactly where you stand. I never doubt where Kyle stands."
Shanahan and general manager John Lynch are three months into their second offseason with the 49ers. The team is already one of the most hyped in the league thanks to a mid-season trade for quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo and a five-game winning streak to end the 2017 season. Along the way, the 49ers defeated three playoff-bound teams in the Tennessee Titans, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Los Angeles Rams.
York also commented on the offseason addition of former Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman, who for a long time was a bitter rival of the franchise and its fans. The 49ers CEO and Sherman had actually blocked each other on Twitter. While York didn't reveal the reason for the block, he said he is happy to have Sherman on his team now. The two have since unblocked each other on the social network.
"There's just a level of competition and that competitive spirit," York said. "I'm happy to be fighting alongside him. But there was definitely a rivalry. At the end of the day, football is a business, but you have to figure out can you work with people who have different perspectives and different histories. And with Richard, he's going to come in and be the consummate pro."