Shanahan: Staff reviewed playoff OT rules with players
San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said Tuesday that he asked members of his staff to go through overtime rules with his players before this past season's playoffs, according to ESPN's Nick Wagoner.
Shanahan's comments come after multiple 49ers players said they didn't know the NFL's new overtime procedures ahead of San Francisco's 25-22 OT loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVIII.
The 44-year-old coach, however, said he also instructed his assistants to address the rules before the extra frame began Sunday.
"We told everyone as we were waiting for the coin toss to ... make sure they're sure before we go out," Shanahan added. "So, we asked position coaches to do that. But I didn't cover it in a meeting on the Super Bowl week. I don't think that changes anything."
49ers quarterback Brock Purdy confirmed QB coach Brian Griese explained the rules to him at the end of regulation.
"I had an understanding of it," Purdy said.
The NFL updated its postseason overtime rules in 2022 to allow for each team to get a possession, barring a defensive score, regardless of what the team with the ball first does. The game then becomes sudden death. Sunday's Super Bowl loss was San Francisco's first playoff contest to go to overtime under these rules. In the regular season, the game ends if a TD is scored on the first overtime drive.
The 49ers had the first possession in overtime against the Chiefs but settled for a field goal. Patrick Mahomes then quarterbacked a 13-play touchdown drive to win another Super Bowl.
"We went through all the analytics and talked to those guys," Shanahan said, according to Fox Sports. "We wanted the ball third. If both teams matched and scored, we wanted to be the ones with a chance to go win."
Niners fullback Kyle Juszczyk was among the players who said Monday they weren't aware of the changes. Juszczyk clarified his comments Tuesday, saying he knew about them but forgot.
"That changes nothing for me as a player, whatsoever," Juszczyk added, according to Michael Silver of the San Francisco Chronicle. "If I know the rule or don't know the rule, I'm trying to do the exact same thing on the field. It's just people looking for a way to shit on (Shanahan)."