George Kittle and Kyle Shanahan clearly have the kind of relationship that survives a trip to the ocean — literally.
Speaking on the same “Chris Simms Unbuttoned” interview where he broke down the Taylor Swift-Travis Kelce wedding, Kittle was asked for one of his favorite off-the-field memories with his coach. He did not need long to think of one.
“I’ll give you this one — this was fun,” Kittle said. “Every year after the season, we go down to Cabo to hang out. One, because it’s such an easy flight, and two, they have great golf courses down there that I really enjoy.”
The story in question dates back four or five years, during a round of golf with Shanahan, their wives and kids on a course along the coast.
“We’re golfing with Kyle, having a couple drinks, and I think it’s like hole 15 or 16,” Kittle said. “He goes, ‘I think I could take you in a fight.’ I’m like, ‘Really? You think you could take me in a fight, Kyle?’ He’s like, ‘Yeah, I think I could.’ I’m like, ‘All right, bring it.'”
Shanahan made the mistake of actually following through.
“He kind of rushes me, and I pick him up and put him over my shoulder,” Kittle said. “It was a par three on the ocean, so I walked him down to the beach and put him in the water. I said, ‘You stick to coaching, I’ll stick to the football.'”
Five years later, the two are still strengthening their player-coach bond together in San Francisco — Shanahan presumably having learned his lesson.
Download and follow the 49ers Talk Podcast