Odds are, you know what that is. If you don't, it's the red hat (pictured above) with the small San Francisco 49ers logo inside a tiny black patch worn by head coach Kyle Shanahan that became an instant hit. Personally, I like the black version that he donned for a short time.
The headwear became known as the Shanahat, and almost immediately sold out when offered on the team's online store.
It turns out, Shanahan designed the hat himself. The 49ers coach joined the Chris Simms Unbuttoned podcast this week and was asked about the Shanahat, and its origins.
"The problem was I never wore hats during games much because I just didn't like how the hats worked," Shanahan told his friend, Simms. "This (a Hurley hat he wore during the interview) is actually a hat I wear a lot, and I wear hats like this; mainly surfer hats and stuff like that.
"But when I went to New Era and they were asking why we didn't wear them, I was wearing one like this, and they said, 'Well, you could design one.' So they flipped the laptop around, and they let me kind of design one. And I picked out a logo, and I kept shrinking it. I made it a netted hat, and obviously I got a flat bill and stuff. I just made it like a hat that I like to wear.
"And then I started wearing it, just in a couple of games, and we actually won in those games. Then, eventually, throughout the year, I was ready to take the hat off. I mentioned that to my wife one day before a game, and I never mentioned it again. She said that's why we were winning."
Shanahan added that he wouldn't make wearing the hat a routine thing next year, but if he does, it will be a similar style.
"I wore the hat just because I liked it for myself," Shanahan continued, "and they sold it in our gift shop down here. After I wore it one game, they sold out right away, and they didn't make any more because they just made them for me personally, and then for our gift shop.
"And then I had buddies sending me pictures of eBay, where those hats were going for $600 and stuff, which blew my mind."
More San Francisco 49ers News
-
49ers' Kyle Shanahan surges in Coach of the Year race after late-season success
San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan continues to draw praise after Sunday night's win over the Chicago Bears, a victory that set up a high-stakes Week 18 matchup against the Seattle Seahawks. On the line: the NFC West title, the NFC's No. 1 seed, and home-field... -
49ers coach Kyle Shanahan reveals key goal to beat Colts in Week 16
The San Francisco 49ers clinched a playoff berth Sunday after the Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Detroit Lions. Still, the 49ers have plenty at stake heading into Monday night's Week 16 matchup against the Indianapolis Colts. Entering the game, San Francisco is slotted as... -
Kyle Shanahan previews 49ers-Seahawks Week 18 matchup
San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan addressed reporters ahead of Tuesday's practice as the team gears up for its Week 18 matchup against the Seattle Seahawks. Here's everything he said. Transcript provided by the San Francisco 49ers Communications staff. Opening... -
49ers' Kyle Shanahan reveals expectations for Brock Purdy in Week 18 showdown vs. Seahawks
The San Francisco 49ers have a lot at stake in Saturday night's regular-season finale against the Seattle Seahawks at Levi's Stadium. The winner will claim the NFC West title and secure the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs, which includes home-field advantage throughout the...