We're Enjoying The Summer of Belichick Because He Shot Down a Job Offer from Kyle Shanahan
You have to feel for Kyle Shanahan. Not only did his dreams get ripped right out of his hands thanks to an overtime loss in the Super Bowl, it turns out his hopes for a brighter future were crushed not long after. The fact that the second disappointment was due to the greatest cause of all - true love - can offer only so much consolation.
Because it seems the object of Shanahan's desire, the vessel into which he was willing to pour all his ambitions, turned him down so that he might spend 2024 living his best life:
That's right. Shanahan tried to lure Bill Belichick away from an idyllic year of romantic bliss by offering him … well, anything:
Source - Kyle Shanahan is smart enough to not be threatened by having a coach smarter than him on his staff.
The 49ers head coach told Tim Kawakami of TheAthletic.com that he offered Belichick the chance “to do anything he wanted with the 49ers this year.” Belichick declined.
What a combination they could have been. Shanahan, a master of offense. Belichick, one of the greatest coaches of all-time in any sport, and arguably the best game-day Xs and Os coach in football history.
Think about this offer for a moment. Not only did the Niners come within an overtime defensive stop of winning a ring, they had the No. 3 scoring defense while giving up the fewest yards in the league under Steve Wilks. And yet Shanahan was only too willing, wisely, to toss the keys to the best in the business. Or any other job Belichick wanted. And he got shot down cold.
If you'll forgive me for nerding up an otherwise manly football post, this is Bilbo Baggins turning down the Arkenstone that was worth more to Thorin than all the rest of Smaug's treasure combined. As Pat McAfee and Mike Lombardi pointed out, the defensive coordinator doesn't have to make himself available to the press more than five minutes a week:
No head coaching responsibilities. No having to deal with contracts, salary cap issues, disgruntled players looking to get traded. No offense or special teams. All he'd have had to do is coordinate a defense. Which he does before he's even gotten out of bed in the morning. And with the unit San Francisco has put together, he could coach it while he was still in REM sleep.
Besides that, he's always been tight with Shanahan and GM John Lynch, whom he had in camp when he was at the end of his career. Which is partly why he did them the solid of trading them Jimmy Garoppolo in 2017. But again, he gave them both the big Thanks But No Thanks. The It's Not You; It's Me.
All thanks to a certain little lady who taught him about life beyond football. Who is also living the best summer of her 24 year old life:
Like I've said before, I'm in love with the love story of these two crazy kids. And I'm not gonna lie; this latest plot development in their RomCom is so beautiful, I'm actually welling up a little as I type this. Go ahead and judge me if you must. I don't care. All I ask is that when Belichick turned down Shanahan's offer, he said it exactly like any good Boston guy should: