Even though fans are passionate and sometimes irrational about it, the sports business is⊠a business. The NFL isnât the exception to that rule, as the franchises often treat the players as assets rather than actual persons.
Thatâs why GMs and coaches are always willing to go the extra mile and do whatever it takes to get the best player on their teams. More often than not, that means getting dirty and competing with your friends.
Apparently, that was the case with Matt LaFleur and Kyle Shanahan. Despite being lifelong friends, the fact that the 49ers pursued Aaron Rodgers during the offseason led to some strong tensions between the two.
NFL Rumors: Aaron Rodgersâ Potential Trade To 49ers Led To Beef Between Kyle Shanahan And Matt LaFleur
(Transcript via Sports IllustratedâsMichael Silver)
âOn Wednesday, Packers coach Matt LaFleur said he holds no ill will toward 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan, his longtime colleague & friend, in the wake of the Ninersâ offseason pursuit of Aaron Rodgers. Shanahan also downplayed any tension. The two teams play Sunday nightâŠ
But the Rodgers situation caused a lot of drama between LaFleur, Shanahan and their mutual friends and coaching colleagues last spring, and one story in particularâwhich took place on the first night of the draftâunderscores that strainâŠ
Minutes before the start of the 2021 draft, 49ers offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel was having a FaceTime conversation in his office with two former SF assistants: Jets HC Robert Saleh & Jets OC Mike LaFleur (Mattâs younger brother), who were together in Florham Park, NJâŠ
McDanielâs office door was open, and some other Niners coaches walked into the room. Playful banter was exchanged by both sides. Then Shanahan entered McDanielâs office and joined the conversationâŠ
A couple of hours earlier, the NFL world had been rocked by reports of Aaron Rodgersâ desire to leave Green Bayâand a report that the 49ers had called the Packers (Shanahan, to LaFleur) to inquire about a trade. Now the Niners were getting ready to pick a QB third overallâŠ
The Jets, with the No. 2 pick, were expected to take BYU QB Zach Wilson. Shanahan joked to Saleh and (Mike) LaFleur: âI hope you guys donât take a different QB and cross us up. We havenât looked hard enough at Wilson.ââŠ
âWhat do you mean? Youâve already got your quarterback,â Mike LaFleur replied to Shanahan. âAaron Rodgers.â Shanahan tried to brush it off as a joke, saying, âHey, tell your brother to call me back. He hasnât returned my calls.â LaFleurâs response: âCan you blame him?ââŠ
At that point, according to several people familiar with the call, Shanahan got visibly upset and hastily left the room. In his eyes, he had merely done due diligence on behalf of his franchise. But it was clear to all that Matt LaFleur viewed it differentlyâŠ
The fact that Rodgers and Niners GM John Lynch share an agent, David Dunn, contributed to the perception that there had been a coordinated effort to get Rodgers from the Packers to the Niners. And to Mike LaFleur, blood is clearly thicker than waterâŠ
As Sunday nightâs game approaches, itâs heartening that Matt LaFleur and Shanahan are publicly downplaying any tension. Theyâre both accomplished coaches and have a lot of history, & the NFL is a stressful business. And Rodgers, for now, remains property of the Packers.â
Well, thatâs just the way things go sometimes in this business. You know what they say: All is fair in love and war. Clearly, there will be some extra motivation when the Packers visit the 49ers for Week 3.
