San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan is haunted by a draft decision that could have drastically altered the course of his coaching legacy. As the 2024 NFL Draft approaches, the repercussions of Shanahan’s choice in 2017, when he opted not to select Patrick Mahomes, loom large. Shanahan acknowledges that, had he chosen Mahomes, his coaching career could have boasted a couple of championship rings by now.
Mahomes, now a two-time Super Bowl winner, has not only eluded Shanahan’s grasp but has emerged as a formidable opponent, defeating Shanahan’s team twice in the championship game. Shanahan openly expresses regret over the decision, emphasizing that any NFL coach in a similar position would share the sentiment.
Reflecting on the pivotal moment, Shanahan laments the absence of a time machine that could rectify the past. He also points out that, at the time, the rookies Mahomes and Deshaun Watson were not considered top-five or top-ten picks. Shanahan had opted to look towards the prospect of securing a free-agent quarterback the following year, with Kirk Cousins being the chosen target, confident that he could lead the team to victory.
In the end, Shanahan’s decision led to the acquisition of Brock Purdy, a quarterback who became part of the 49ers. ESPN’s Adam Schefter recently delved into the intricacies of this draft ripple effect on the “Pardon My Take” podcast, shedding light on how the non-selection of Mahomes ultimately shaped the team’s quarterback roster, with Purdy taking the helm.
As the 2024 NFL Draft approaches, Shanahan is left to grapple with the what-ifs of his past decision, haunted by the enduring impact of not choosing Patrick Mahomes and the subsequent domino effect that brought Brock Purdy into the 49ers’ fold.
On the latest episode of ESPN’s “Pardon My Take” podcast, ESPN’s Adam Schefter detailed how Brock Purdy ended up joining the Niners as a result of not drafting Mahomes.
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