Kyle Shanahan addresses rumors of frosty relationship with Matt LaFleur

Matt LaFleur and Kyle Shanahan have already met four times in their coaching careers, following two years together as assistants in Atlanta. With a fifth matchup and second playoff meeting on the horizon this week, it remains to be seen how the old friendship will stand up to rivalry.

After the Green Bay Packers defeated the San Francisco 49ers last season, a frosty hand shake sparked rumors of unrest. However, Shanahan addressed and squashed the idea of any ill-will toward LaFleur in that awkward moment

“Matt’s my guy. Matt and I are totally good,” Shanahan said, via 49ers Webzone’s David Bonilla. “I was pissed after that game because of how the game just ended. That was a tough one. It took a while to get over. But we’re good. I talked to Matt a lot. He’s done a hell of a job this year. I’ve been real happy for him, but that stops this week.”

The postseason loss only started the rumors of a deteriorating friendship between the two, and the story heated up once more this offseason. While both coaches remain firm that their friendship continues to blossom, more intense meetings on rival sidelines make for a difficult foundation to grow on.

LaFleur and Shanahan address the offseason

As the Aaron Rodgers offseason drama continued in Green Bay, one ripple effect almost pitted two friends against each other. Packers head coach Matt LaFleur is great friends with San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan, and the 49ers inquired about making a draft day trade.

Earlier this season, LaFleur was asked if his relationship with Shanahan was strained by the Rodgers saga and the phone call he received.

“Kyle’s a great friend of mine,” LaFleur said, via Bill Huber of SI.com. “Absolutely, I hold no ill will toward him.”

After LaFleur told Shanahan the Packers would not trade Rodgers, the 49ers traded three first-round picks to move to No. 3 overall. With that pick, they selected North Dakota State’s Trey Lance.

“I understand,” LaFleur said. “He’s trying to do whatever he thinks he needs to do for his football team. He’s got a responsibility to everybody in that organization, and if there’s an opportunity, I don’t hold that against him. So, yeah, that will have no effect on our relationship.”

Furthermore, Shanahan recognized his phone call to LaFleur as an exercise in futility. Still, it remains his duty to pick up the phone.

“I thought it’d be a quick no,” Shanahan told reporters about his inquiry. “Which was exactly what I thought it would be. But you hear enough stuff and I think everyone knew what was going on at that time that it didn’t seem like it [wasn’t] worth the call, but I know how we would’ve felt if it was going to happen and we didn’t call. So, you call, you get a quick answer which what was what you’re expecting and then you move on.”