Skip to content

Shanahan downplays brief handshake with LaFleur: 'Wasn't trying to hang out'

Thearon W. Henderson / Getty Images Sport / Getty

San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan played down talk of tension after Sunday night's brief handshake with Green Bay Packers bench boss Matt LaFleur.

"I was just pissed about the game ending on the last play and I wasn't trying to hang out too long in the middle of the field," Shanahan said following the 30-28 walk-off loss.

It was previously reported that there may be tension between the two coaches due to the 49ers' offseason pursuit of Aaron Rodgers. San Francisco, which was reportedly Rodgers' top destination if he departed Green Bay, expressed interest in acquiring the quarterback this offseason but was quickly rebuffed.

LaFleur gave little weight to rumors of an eroding friendship with the 49ers coach earlier in the week and continued to do so after Sunday's contest.

"That's a tough moment for anybody to be in, and I'm sure he was ticked off that we were able to take the ball down and kick a field goal to win the football game," LaFleur said Sunday, according to ESPN's Rob Demovsky. "We've had a lot of history together, so I'm not going to let anything come between our friendship."

Daily Newsletter

Get the latest trending sports news daily in your inbox