It’s safe to say Kyle Shanahan is a big fan of the McCaffrey family.
Not only does Christian McCaffrey spearhead the 49ers’ offense as an elite NFL running back, but Shanahan also looked up to Christian’s father, Ed, growing up. The elder McCaffrey, a star wide receiver, won back-to-back Super Bowls with the Denver Broncos in the late 1990s — coached by Kyle’s own father, Mike.
After San Francisco’s practice on Saturday, Kyle was asked about his admiration for Ed and if he thought he could emulate McCaffrey as a wideout. Shanahan’s response didn’t disappoint.
“I did, because I didn’t know enough about football,” Shanahan replied with his typical dry humor. “I idolized Ed and [former Broncos receiver Rod Smith], but that ship sailed I think when I was an insecure, very skinny junior, and I was talking to Ed and thinking he’d make me feel better, and I was like, ‘Man, how much did you weigh in high school? You were pretty skinny, too. When did you get all big?’
“And he was like, ‘I was a tight end in high school. I had to lose weight when I went to college.’ And that’s when I realized — even though I should have on my own — that we’re not at all the same guy.”
During his short-lived playing career, Shanahan was a walk-on receiver at Texas, but he only recorded 14 receptions for 127 yards in college. In other words, he wasn’t quite able to imitate the one-time Pro Bowl selection McCaffrey.
Of course, Shanahan instead chose to follow in the footsteps of his own father, which was probably not the worst decision, considering his success as the 49ers head coach over the last decade.
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