Appearing on the Throwbacks podcast with Matt Leinart, Sanders was asked which modern NFL offense he would choose to play in. The choice was simple.
"If I had to pick one, I'm going to go with the Niners," Sanders said. "In this pass-happy NFL, Shanahan, he's figured out how to run the football. The Niners are one of those few teams that they've always been able to run the ball.
"I mean, Christian McCaffrey, obviously, he's taken it to a new level, but think back to Matt Breida or Raheem Mostert.
"George Kittle, he's going to catch his passes, and there just seem to be enough balls to go around for all their skill players. If I had to choose one, then that would be it."
Sanders' admiration underscores the 49ers' reputation as one of the NFL's most creative offenses, often blending an effective ground game with a strong passing attack.
The 49ers certainly would have benefited from Sanders' durability and production. He played all 16 games in seven of his 10 NFL seasons, including each of his final five years in the league. Over his career, Sanders rushed for 15,269 yards and 99 touchdowns, leading the NFL in rushing yards four times.
He also added 2,921 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns as a pass catcher, further highlighting the type of all-around threat he could have been in Shanahan's system.
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