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49ers' Shanahan burns Cam Newton: Our female coach 'talks routes all the time'

Kelley L Cox / USA TODAY Sports

San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan didn't find it very "funny" that Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton questioned whether women are fit to "talk about routes."

Newton scoffed at a question from female reporter Jourdan Rodrigue on Wednesday, essentially questioning whether she was fit to speak on the subject of receivers and route-running.

Shanahan took an opportunity Friday to defend women working in and around the sport of football.

"We definitely have a woman who talks about routes all the time," Shanahan said on KNBR's "Murph and Mac Show," according to Kirk Larrabee of 247 Sports.

He was referring to Katie Sowers, the second full-time female coach in NFL history. Sowers is a seasonal offensive assistant for the Niners and, last year, worked with the team's wide receivers.

"Katie is a baller, 100 percent," Niners receiver Marquise Goodwin said of Sowers this summer. "She understands the game. She's very familiar with the game. She played in a women's league and it may be a little different, but she definitely has the attitude it takes to be in that room."

Someone relay the message to Newton.

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