Kyle Shanahan, head coach of the San Francisco 49ers, has improved his leadership, communication, and coaching abilities, according to tight end George Kittle. In this week’s episode of “49ers Talk,” Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area interviewed the standout tight end. They talked about Kittle’s head coach.
Maiocco discussed how Kittle and Shanahan had developed together. Kittle was a member of Shanahan and John Lynch’s first draft class in 2017. Maiocco inquired about Kittle’s observations about Shanahan’s development.
Kittle responded, “I think what has really impressed me the most with Kyle is sitting in his meetings all the time and seeing how everything’s kind of evolved and how he’s figured out the best way to talk to his players, the best way to inspire his players, the best way to talk to his coaches, it’s evolved every single year.” And we used to have team meetings early in my career when he would let players speak, and that’s who talks to the team before games and so on.
“And over the last few years, he’s developed a style of communication with the squad that suits him. I’ve greatly appreciated it. And, over the last three to four years, the way he speaks to the offence and we discuss the run game, as well as how he teaches the run game and explains it in front of the entire team.”
In 2017, Kittle was not the only rookie who had to learn how to do his new job in the NFL. Shanahan was a rookie head coach as well. And, while he had plenty of experience as an assistant coach and offensive coordinator, it’s difficult to recreate being an NFL head coach until you try it and learn how to win.
Shanahan is regarded as a great play-caller and designer. However, his development as a teacher and communicator has been visible in the performance of his players as well as the 49ers’ draft picks. Kittle has paid the most attention to Shanahan’s growth.
“I feel like guys learn more about football in these small team meetings that we have than you would with any other coach that you’ve ever played with,” he said. “And I’ve heard guys say, just the occasional rookie, I have to nudge them, like, ‘Hey, make sure you’re paying attention to this because it’s very knowledgeable.'” But when you’re around a man that loves the game, has the energy, and puts in the time, it’s amazing to be around because it’s contagious.
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