Even though fans are passionate and sometimes irrational about it, the sports business is… a business. The NFL isn’t the exception to that rule, as the franchises often treat the players as assets rather than actual persons.
That’s 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 Rodgers’ Potential Trade To 49ers Led To Beef Between Kyle Shanahan And Matt LaFleur
(Transcript via Sports Illustrated’sMichael Silver)
“On 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 Niners’ offseason pursuit of Aaron Rodgers. Shanahan also downplayed any tension. The two teams play Sunday night…
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 particular–which took place on the first night of the draft–underscores that strain…
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 (Matt’s younger brother), who were together in Florham Park, NJ…
McDaniel’s office door was open, and some other Niners coaches walked into the room. Playful banter was exchanged by both sides. Then Shanahan entered McDaniel’s office and joined the conversation…
A couple of hours earlier, the NFL world had been rocked by reports of Aaron Rodgers’ desire to leave Green Bay–and 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 overall…
The Jets, with the No. 2 pick, were expected to take BYU QB Zach Wilson. Shanahan joked to Saleh and (Mike) LaFleur: “I hope you guys don’t take a different QB and cross us up. We haven’t looked hard enough at Wilson.”…
“What do you mean? You’ve already got your quarterback,” Mike LaFleur replied to Shanahan. “Aaron Rodgers.” Shanahan tried to brush it off as a joke, saying, “Hey, tell your brother to call me back. He hasn’t returned my calls.” LaFleur’s response: “Can you blame him?”…
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 differently…
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 water…
As Sunday night’s game approaches, it’s heartening that Matt LaFleur and Shanahan are publicly downplaying any tension. They’re both accomplished coaches and have a lot of history, & the NFL is a stressful business. And Rodgers, for now, remains property of the Packers.”
Well, that’s 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.
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