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MIAMI — Imagine coming so close to reaching a major accomplishment, only to fail in such spectacular fashion that you have to hear about it from strangers for years and years and years.
Then imagine you find yourself on the verge of getting another chance at that opportunity, but all anyone wants to do is ask you about that time you failed.
That’s exactly what San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan is going through right now in Miami, and he’s handling it with such incredible grace that I’m both in awe and jealous of his ability to deal with such a difficult situation. I’d probably end up snapping at someone, even if the questions were justified, which they are.
I’m talking, of course, about 28-3. Shanahan was the offensive coordinator for the Atlanta Falcons in Super Bow 51 when they blew that lead and it’s a score he, and anyone else associated with that team, has had to hear time again since that dreadful night in Houston.
A few different decisions by Shanahan on that night could have won the Falcons the Super Bowl. Instead, they lost in OT to the Patriots in one of the biggest collapses in sports history.
This week Shanahan is preparing his 49ers to take on the Chiefs in Super Bowl 54 but he keeps getting asked about Super Bowl 51. He was asked about it twice on Wednesday, including one question that came just a few minutes in to his 15-minute press conference.
Instead of shying away from it, or staring down the person who asked the question, or showing even the slightest amount of frustration for having to have this brought up yet again, Shanahan hasn’t batted an eye before supplying a very thoughtful and detailed answer.
Here’s what he said Wednesday:
“I don’t thing there’s anything to run away from. I’m very proud of that year. I was very proud of our team in Atlanta. I was very proud of our players. I thought we played a pretty darn good game. We were up 28-3 in the fourth and we all know that we did not play well in the fourth, did not coach well. I’m not going to run from that. I’m very disappointed in losing a 28-3 game and it was very hard on our team. I understand perception-wise how much I have to take of that but I think I can deal with that and have been able to. I feel like knowing that I can deal with that has made me stronger. I think it was harder for people who love me – my wife and family members and stuff because they’re very defensive about things like that. I was involved in the game, I know exactly what happened on every single play and I know I can live with that. I’m proud of a lot of that stuff that we did that year.”
That’s not just lip service, either. Shanahan has clearly been able to process what happened in that fourth quarter, learn from it, and, more importantly, not crush himself over and over again for some of the things that happened that night.
Nobody would have blamed Shanahan if he let that fourth quarter hang over his head for years.
His ability, however, to look back at it and be honest with himself and grow from the experience is so darn healthy that it’s beautiful.
His players know all about it, too, including Jimmy Garoppolo, who was on the Patriots sideline that night.
He and Shanahan have had some conversations about it:
“We’ve joked around about it a couple of times, couple of serious talks about it,” he said. “I don’t know, just some kinda weird conversations.”
But Garoppolo added that his coach has only gotten stronger from it:
“I think whether it’s a player or a coach or one of you guys, you do your job and just progressively get better and better, you learn things along the way and sometimes the best way to learn something is to get a scar from it.” he said. “I think as long as you’re trending forward in the right direction it’s a good thing.”
Shanahan is indeed trending forward. After just four wins last season, he’s one victory away from putting 28-3 to bed forever.
And if he does, there’s one person he should commend for getting through it – himself.
Wednesday’s biggest winner: George Kittle.
Earlier this week, 49ers star George Kittle said that Garoppolo was “the worst texter of all time.” On Wednesday I asked Jimmy G what he thought of that allegation and… he agreed with Kittle. That must have felt good for the tight end. Jimmy G did provide some good excuses for why he forgets to text back. But seriously, Jimmy G’s fun answer to this texting question was too good.
Quick hits: Mahomes’ best moment… 4 smart decisions that got the Chiefs to the Super Bowl… UFC drama at Super Bowl… And more!
– I asked a bunch of different Chiefs players what their favorite Patrick Mahomes moment was and they did not disappoint.
Here are 4 smart decisions that got the Chiefs to Super Bowl 54.
– UFC welterweight champ Kamaru Usman and BMF champ Jorge Masvidal almost got into a fight at Super Bowl 54 Radio Row.
– The Astros paused their cheating tactics the day after Danny Farquhar raised suspicions.
– Watch a robot get a hole-in-one at PGA Tour practice round. It’s nuts.