49ers coach Kyle Shanahan admits they wanted in on Matthew Stafford trade
The San Francisco 49ers aggressively addressed their quarterback position this offseason. The Niners traded up to No. 3 overall in the draft to select Trey Lance in the 2021 NFL draft.
But their head coach, Kyle Shanahan, admits they tried for an even bigger trade before the draft. Shanahan declared that the 49ers wanted to be in the Matthew Stafford business once the Detroit Lions placed the veteran on the trade block.
“So I was trying to get involved in it,” Shanahan said on the Flying Coach podcast with Peter Schrager and Rams coach Sean McVay, whose team landed Stafford. “I remember Saturday I was so stressed out and finally we talked to someone, it was seven at night, and they’re like, ‘No, nothing’s happening (with a trade) at the earliest until tomorrow, so you can finish your night.’ So I’m like, alright, I’m done. I put my phone down, talk to Mandy. I’m like, alright, ‘Let’s go out to dinner, let’s have some drinks.’
Shanahan continues,
“Half an hour later, my buddy calls me and is like, ‘I’m just telling ya, if you want Stafford, you need to get a hold of him right now.’ I’m like, ‘What do you mean? We just talked to people. I can sleep on this. We’ll talk to them tomorrow.’ ‘I’m just telling you, you need to talk to him right now.’ And then it was all over.”
It’s unknown what sort of offer the 49ers could have concocted for Stafford, but it’s a safe bet oft-injured Jimmy Garoppolo would have been a fixture in the deal. Garoppolo’s inability to stay on the field is why San Francisco wanted Stafford but eventually settled on Lance.
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