Kyle Shanahan Explains Why He Called a Run for 49ers WR Jauan Jennings

Of course, the 49ers went on to win, so that odd play ultimately doesn't matter.

SANTA CLARA -- By far the strangest play of the 49ers' playoff win over the Packers was the first one of the second half.

The 49ers had the ball, and Jauan Jennings was the running back. Presumably, this was a play the 49ers would run for Deebo Samuel, who was out with a shoulder injury. Jennings replaced him. And now Jennings was in the backfield, Brock Purdy handed off to him and he lost a yard.

Of course, the 49ers went on to win, so that odd play ultimately doesn't matter. But it perplexed me so much, I had to ask Kyle Shanahan after the game why he called it.

“Great question," Shanahan said with a smile. "Those are some of the challenges when something goes down and you call a wristband number. I forgot to tell him to not read Hessi. But sometimes we just Ron Burgundy our wristbands. Then you look up and Jauan’s in the backfield and you can’t stop it.” 

TRANSLATION: Shanahan didn't say the entire play call over the headset -- he said a number. Purdy looked up the number on his wristband and said the corresponding play verbatim, which Shanahan didn't want him to do. Shanahan wanted to call a different version of that play, apparently, one that didn't have Jennings at running back.

This is a weird explanation.

Shanahan is famous for his lengthy, wordy play calls. The only reason to call a number instead of a full play is when you're on the road and it's too loud to communicate lots of words, but the 49ers were at home. And they had just had halftime, when they could and probably did script plays.

I'm flummoxed.