Kyle Shanahan’s history with the 49ers goes well beyond his time as their head coach. His dad, Mike Shanahan, was with the team from 1992-94 as an offensive coordinator. Kyle was 13 when his dad started his work in San Francisco.
In the elder Shanahan’s final year with the 49ers, they won a Super Bowl thanks in part to the offseason acquisition of cornerback Deion Sanders. Sanders played one season for the 49ers and was arguably the most popular player in the league during that time. The 49ers wore a unique 75th-anniversary uniform throughout that season, and the Sanders version of that jersey was, and still is to an extent, a hot item. It’s not a surprise that a then-15-year-old Kyle Shanahan owned that jersey.
However, he doesn’t still own that jersey, and it’s a sore subject with him because he lost it during his senior year of high school.
““I’m still a little sensitive about it,” he told reporters during his press conference when asked about the jersey. “But, I had too many people over my senior year of high school and someone jacked it from my house. I’m still looking for that guy. So, if you see someone wearing an authentic Deion jersey, 75-year anniversary, please let me know.”
This comes on the heels of Rams head coach Sean McVay telling reporters he used to have the same red jersey. Shanahan joked he’s worried that McVay might’ve been the thief who stole his.
The 49ers will take the field in a different version of those 1994 uniforms Sunday. They’ll wear the white version with red numbers and black shadowing behind them. It’ll be coupled with white pants and a gold helmet.
Stephen Dunn/ALLSPORT
San Francisco originally wanted to unveil the new digs on Sunday Night Football, but they were flexed out of that spot in favor of the Bengals and Chiefs. Now the 49ers and Rams will kick off at 1:25 from Levi’s Stadium.
Shanahan may not get his Sanders 1994 jersey back, but surely he’d take a win with his team wearing the uniforms honoring the team his dad helped lead to a Super Bowl.
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