Kyle Shanahan Sharply Corrects Reporter for Unfortunate Description of 49ers Fans

The question to San Francisco 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan was a simple one.

“How important is the 12th man going to be on Sunday?” a reporter asked Shanahan at a Thursday press conference.

The reporter seemed to be innocently asking for Shanahan’s opinion on the impact 49ers fans could have on Sunday’s NFC championship game at Levi’s Stadium against the visiting Detroit Lions. But Shanahan was quick to point out the reporter’s awkward mistake.

“We don’t call them the 12th man here,” Shanahan quipped with a smile, to a chorus of laughter in the room.

Shanahan’s response was an obvious ode to the franchise’s rivalry with the Seattle Seahawks, who are known for referring to their fan base as the “12th man.” The hatred of the 12th man moniker extends back mush further for Shanahan, dating back to his college playing career as a wide receiver at Texas. One of Texas’s biggest rivals is Texas A&M, which is the school most famous for naming its fan base the 12th man at the college level.

So pardon Shanahan if he’s a tad blunt when that moniker pops up. Nobody can blame him given his history in playing and coaching against the teams that made it famous. 

Kickoff between the 49ers and Lions is set for 6:30 p.m. ET Sunday on Fox.