Kyle Shanahan envisions his life being much easier with the San Francisco 49ers if he made a decision that would have altered Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur’s career trajectory.
Shanahan, LaFleur, and Sean McVay were offensive assistants together on the Washington Redskins. Shanahan (offensive coordinator) and LaFleur (quarterback’s coach) would work together on the Atlanta Falcons during the 2015-16 seasons. The 2016 Falcons team made but eventually lost the Super Bowl to the New England Patriots in an epic collapse.
Kyle Shanahan has one regret on Green Bay Packers HC Matt LaFleur
Shanahan took the 49ers head coaching job after the Super Bowl. But LaFleur didn’t follow. He took the offensive coordinator position under McVay with the Los Angeles Rams.
According to Jourdan Rodrigue with The Athletic, it’s a move Shanahan admitted he regretted allowing to happen:
Shanahan and McVay face each other at least twice a season, and the stakes are usually as high as the games are tense. They all openly study each others’ offenses in addition to other dominant schemes across the league. In the series, McVay tells a story about attending a Falcons playoff game during the 2016 season and getting inspired by the way Shanahan and LaFleur ran their turbo package in Atlanta … right before McVay hired LaFleur to be his offensive coordinator in Los Angeles, where they promptly installed a turbo package.
“That’s why I hate that I let Matt go to him,” Shanahan says.
Shanahan has McVay’s number when it comes to the overall win-loss record between the Rams and the 49ers. Shanahan is 9-3 against McVay. However, the Rams beat the 49ers in the 2021 NFC Championship game.
It’s clear Shanahan has a healthy respect for the Rams, who have won three divisional titles to the 49ers two since both head coaches have been there. Shanahan’s quote is also high praise for LaFleur, who credits the Packers head coach as a tactical genius who changed the nature of the NFC West in just one season with McVay as the Rams’ offensive coordinator.
Matt LaFleur will need to prove himself again this season
LaFleur will have a chance to prove his skills as an offensive coach this season. The Packers will be without their former play nixer, Aaron Rodgers. It’ll be up to LaFleur and Jordan Love to see if the Packers can reach the level of the Rams and 49ers, who have made Super Bowl appearances in recent seasons.
Explore the intriguing dynamics between Kyle Shanahan and Matt LaFleur in our latest piece. Discover how their decisions have shaped the NFL landscape. For more insights, check out our Green Bay Packers Rumors and get the Latest News on Aaron Rodgers Trade.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Was Kyle Shanahan the offensive coordinator?
Yes, Kyle Shanahan served as the offensive coordinator for the Houston Texans for two seasons, after spending a season as the wide receivers coach, followed by being quarterbacks coach next year. He had a total of four seasons with the team playing as in various coaching roles
How is Matt LaFleur and Kyle Shanahan related?
Matt LaFleur and Kyle Shanahan are not related by blood, but they have a professional history together. They worked on coaching staffs dating back to 2008 in Houston when Shanahan was the offensive coordinator and LaFleur was an offensive assistant. They also worked together in Washington and Atlanta before taking on head coaching roles with separate teams.
