The 49ers played on Thanksgiving night and are preparing for a big Week 16 battle on Christmas night. Head coach Kyle Shanahan admits he wasn't too happy with the NFL's schedule makers when the schedule was released in May.
"I definitely didn't think it was cool when I got the schedule," Shanahan told John Dickinson and Kerry Crowley on Bay Area radio station KNBR on Friday. "We've been real lucky here. I mean, the seven years I've been here, it's been so random, but we've gotten the Christmas off every [year]. We've had, like, eight-day weeks. We played on Saturday, the day before Christmas, our first year when we played Jacksonville, so we've been real lucky.
"And when we saw this, we weren't too excited about it, especially the family and stuff. But when you get to this point, and you see where we're at, and our record and everything, and them, and being on Christmas and knowing how I feel when I get to watch those basketball games and stuff, it is a pretty cool opportunity for us, a pretty special game. And happy to be in it, and we're going to enjoy it."
The 49ers and Ravens sit atop their respective conference standings and lead the race for home-field advantage, increasing the stakes for Monday night's matchup.
This is only the second time the 49ers have played on Christmas, with the previous matchup taking place in 1993 against the Houston Oilers. Shanahan's father, Mike Shanahan, was San Francisco's offensive coordinator at the time. His 49ers lost that game 10-7, but that's not necessarily what his son remembers from that day.
"I remember not being able to open my presents that morning and having to wait until we got home later in the day to do it," Kyle Shanahan shared. "So I was upset with my dad for that, which I'm sure my kids are going to be upset with me, but I didn't remember much about the game at that time."
You can listen to the entire conversation with Shanahan below.
More San Francisco 49ers News
-
49ers owner Jed York reveals the only NFL Draft pick he ever pushed for
There's often a different energy when Jed York discusses players from his alma mater, the University of Notre Dame. For the most part, the San Francisco 49ers owner has stayed hands-off when it comes to draft decisions. However, in a conversation with ESPN's Jamison Hensley,... -
49ers' Fred Warner reveals secret behind remarkable rehab recovery
The San Francisco 49ers roster was hit hard by injuries last season, but few losses proved more significant than that of linebacker Fred Warner. The defensive star suffered a dislocated and fractured right ankle in Week 6, abruptly ending what had been a promising 2026... -
49ers' roster overhaul reveals a fascinating trend under John Lynch
I have written in the past about what teams should consider when building a roster. Today, I will examine two trends that have emerged recently in 49erland. Trust the Conference In the past five seasons, the following receivers have been All-Pro selections. Ja'Marr... -
Stats breakdown shows why 49ers' Kyle Shanahan and Brock Purdy remain elite
Every year, especially at draft time and heading into the season, fans are treated to a lot of potentially unfamiliar vocabulary. Three-technique or five-technique. This or that cornerback can or cannot flip his hips quickly. Statisticians have more categories than ever, even...