Kyle Shanahan Shares Not So Fond Memories From His Time With Browns
Now considered one of the best offensive minds in the game, San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan had a brief stint with the Cleveland Browns in 2014.
Serving as the offensive coordinator on Mike Pettine's staff, Shanahan had a front row seat to the Johnny Manziel experiment in Cleveland, in 2014. By the end of the season, that roller coaster ride of an experience had run it's course to the point where Shanahan took matters into his own hands.
Sensing the Browns just were not longer a fit for him, Shanahan infamously put together a 32-page document for Pettine and the Browns brass, outlining why it was best for him to step down from his role.
Seven years later, Shanahan makes a return to Cleveland in his new post as San Francisco's head man, and the 43-year-old certainly doesn't feel all warm and fuzzy about the place he briefly called home.
Umm...umm...I really liked living out there. Some good people and it was cold. My car was always dirty because snow was on the ground a lot. Never melted it seemed like, but I enjoyed the stadium. I enjoyed the people and it was only one year. It wasn't very long.
Not exactly a ringing endorsement, not that anyone expected Shanahan to have some rave review of Northeast Ohio given how things transpired for him.
Cleveland will have its hands full with Shanahan's 49ers come Sunday. San Francisco boasts one of the NFL's top scoring offenses in football, averaging 33.4 points per game – second only to Shanahan disciple Mike McDaniel's Miami Dolphins (36.2). On the opposite side of the ball, it's defense is holding opponents to an NFL best, 13.6 points per game.
For what it's worth, Cleveland defense is second to the 49ers in points allowed at a mark of 16 points per game. If Deshaun Watson is unable to play though, the Browns defense may find itself on the field more than usual, which wouldn't be ideal.
