The Sportsletter - Shanahan's Super Bowl Revenge

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BY JEFF YODER

FEB. 8, 2024 |  SUBSCRIBE  |  WEB VIEW

Good Morning 👋

It’s a strange week in sports as the Super Bowl inches one day closer. The NBA Trade deadline should be popping, but it’s eerily silent so far. Tiger Woods is golfing again. Alex Morgan was left off the USWNT’s Gold Cup roster. And Georgia (who else?) won college football's National Signing Day.

Where do we begin? It’s all eyes on Vegas. Our Super Bowl previews have covered Brock Purdy, Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid so far, but it’s time to focus on the guy with more pressure than anybody in SBLVIII — Kyle Shanahan.

Letter Rip!

  SUPER BOWL STORIES  

Kyle Shanahan's Must-Win Super Bowl

Photo: Ezra Shaw / Getty Images

Kyle Shanahan Needs a Super Bowl For His Own Coaching Legacy, And He Needs This One

You can’t do Super Bowl preview coverage without mentioning a repeat, and we have one in 2024. If your memory isn’t sharp, that’s okay. Let me remind you. The Chiefs and 49ers faced off in Super Bowl LIV in 2020 just four years ago. Kyle Shanahan was in his third season as the 49ers head coach, and he had successfully turned the Niners back into a Super Bowl contender.

San Francisco held a 20-10 lead going into the 4th quarter of that game. Then Patrick Mahomes did Patrick Mahomes things. The Chiefs won, 31-20. It’s taken four seasons for the 49ers to get back here. But this franchise? It already owns five Super Bowl wins in seven attempts. It doesn’t NEED a Lombardi trophy. It expects it.

Kyle Shanahan? He absolutely needs one... For his legacy’s sake.

With a win on Sunday, the 49ers would secure their sixth Lombardi trophy and join the Patriots and Steelers as the only franchises with six Super Bowl wins. That would be a big deal. In the 58 years of Super Bowl history, owning six of them (10.3%) is no small feat. It would also separate the franchise from the Cowboys (5), Packers (4) and Giants (4) in that second-tier of illustrious football brands.

Most Super Bowl Wins (By Franchise)

T1. New England Patriots (6)

T1. Pittsburgh Steelers (6)

T3. San Francisco 49ers (5)

T3. Dallas Cowboys (5)

T5. Green Bay Packers (4)

T5. New York Giants (4)

Teams With 3 Super Bowls: Broncos, Chiefs, Raiders, Commanders

Win or lose, the 49ers’ franchise legacy is beyond cemented. It has been for quite some time. The brand is among the NFL’s most iconic, with flashbacks to Joe Montana, Steve Young, Jerry Rice and a catalogue of Hall of Fame players and moments that will live forever. There’s just one problem with the five victories you see on this list above. They happened in the team’s first five trips to the big game, all of them prior to the 21st century. That’s right…

The 49ers won all five of their first five trips to the Super Bowl between 1982-1995. And while that’s pretty remarkable, the Niners have only been back to the big game twice since the 90s. Both times, they lost.

Last 2 San Fran Super Bowl Appearances

SBXLVII (2013): Ravens def. 49ers (34-31)

SBLIV (2020): Chiefs def. 49ers (31-20)

Overall, that 5-for-7 win percentage in the big game is still better than almost every other franchise except the Steelers (6-for-8) and Packers (4-for-5). The Patriots’ six rings came via 11 total trips. So with all the info in hand, it’s safe to say the Niners are one of the top-3 (or at least top-5) NFL franchises of the Super Bowl era. Which leads us back to the pressure on Kyle Shanahan.

Shana-Hand It Over Already

I can’t claim to know what it’s like as a 49ers fan. I can say that a franchise this successful has a high expectation level and a low tolerance for “almost.” The Super Bowl victories of Bill Walsh and George Seifert are still fresh in the minds of older San Fran fans. Those two head coaches never left the Bay Area with the feeling of Super Bowl devastation. Five rings, zero losses. Then, there was Jim Harbaugh. He led the Niners to the big game in 2013 and ultimately lost to his brother, John, and the Ravens. But that Harbaugh (Jim, that one) just won his own collegiate championship one month ago with Michigan, then returned to California to lead the Chargers. Niners fan are well aware. They remember who they’ve had, and they remember all of the “almosts” in recent years. Shanahan has been one of the best coaches in football over the past five-plus seasons, but he doesn’t have a Lombardi to show for it.

So here it is, Kyle. You get another crack at Patrick Mahomes, Andy Reid, and the dynasty of the moment. Four years ago, your team squandered a 20-10 lead in the 4th quarter. Your franchise doesn’t need another trophy for their legacy case, but you? You do.

Read More

The Ringer: Is This the Year Kyle Shanahan Changes His Super Bowl Legacy?

FOX Sports: How Much Pressure is on Kyle Shanahan Entering Super Bowl LVIII?(Video)

B/R: Kyle Shanahan Reportedly Told 49ers Staff He Could Win Super Bowl With Nick Mullens at QB

  NBA  

The NBA Trade Deadline Is Here... And It's Quiet

Photo: Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images

All the Moves & Rumors Ahead of Today’s NBA Trade Deadline (3:00 pm ET)

It’s awfully quiet before today’s NBA Trade Deadline. The league’s acquisition window closes at 3:00 pm ET this afternoon, and only a small number of role-player trades have went down in the last few weeks. Two more yesterday likely flew under your radar (see below). So will the trade deadline go nuts at the 11th hour? Or will it fall silent despite the rumors? At least 20 players who play significant minutes appear to be on the trade block. Some of those names include Andrew Wiggins (Warriors), Bojan Bogdanovic (Pistons), Dejounte Murray (Hawks), D’Angelo Russell (Lakers) and Kyle Kuzma (Wizards). Zach LaVine (Bulls) was previously regarded as the No. 1 trade target, but his season-ending injury likely means he won’t move until the summer. We’ll update you on all the moves (or lackthereof) in tomorrow’s edition.

Latest Trades

Celtics Acquire Grizzlies Big Man Xavier Tillman for Multiple 2nd-Round Picks

Timberwolves Acquire Monte Morris From Pistons

Rumor Mill

Bucks & Mavericks After Warriors’ Andrew Wiggins

Sixers Targeting Buddy Hield & Bojan Bogdanovic

Jazz Getting Multiple Calls for Kelly Olynyk

Read More

NBA: Everything You Need to Know For the NBA Trade Deadline

SI: Lakers & Warriors Among Teams Most Desperate to Make a Move

🏀 NBA Scoreboard

Raptors def. Hornets (123-117)

Warriors def. 76ers (127-104)

Celtics def. Hawks (125-117)

Heat def. Spurs (116-104)

Pelicans def. Clippers (117-106)

Pistons def. Kings (133-120)

*Jaden Ivey Drops 37, Detroit Wins 7th Game of the Year

Cavaliers def. Wizards (114-106)

*Donovan Mitchell Scores 40, Cleveland Has Won 15 of Last 17

  CFB  

The Recruiting Rankings 📊

Image via Giphy

Georgia Loads Up Again While SEC & Big Ten Dominate Another College Football National Signing Day

There’s no surprises here. The Big Ten and SEC were only further aided by conference realignments in yesterday’s National Signing Day blitz. This is also our yearly reminder that signing day’s first batch of recruits came in December, with yesterday serving as a simple punctuation mark. Still, a haul of undecided top recruits made some big decisions that altered the landscape of college football, and it’s the SEC (1st) and Big Ten (2nd) who came away winners. Remember: Oregon is now a Big Ten team. Miami (FL) was the only team from outside those two power conferences to crack the top-5. Ohio State, Texas and LSU should all be pretty content. Michigan, however, suffered a disappearing act with the loss of head coach Jim Harbaugh. And, per usual, Georgia and Alabama were 1-2 with the 'Dawgs hauling in yet another top-ranked recruiting class.

The Incoming 2024 Class of College Football

247Sports Composite Recruiting Rankings

1. Georgia (317.05) — 5✭: 5 / 4✭: 19 / 3✭: 4

2. Alabama (310.75) — 5✭: 5 / 4✭: 17 / 3✭: 6

3. Oregon (293.22) — 5✭: 0 / 4✭: 22 / 3✭: 5

4. Miami (291.54) — 5✭: 3 / 4✭: 11 / 3✭: 13

5. Ohio State (289.13) — 5✭: 4 / 4✭: 14 / 3✭: 3

6. Texas (286.92) — 5✭: 4 / 4✭: 15 / 3✭: 3

7. LSU (278.75) — 5✭: 1 / 4✭: 19 / 3✭: 9

8. Oklahoma (275.64) — 5✭: 1 / 4✭: 19 / 3✭: 8

9. Notre Dame (275.57) — 5✭: 0 / 4✭: 16 / 3✭: 7

10. Auburn (275.39) — 5✭: 1 / 4✭: 14 / 3✭: 5

Others: Clemson (11th), Florida State (12th), Tennessee (13th), Florida (14th), Penn State (15th)

✭= Total number of 3-, 4- or 5-star players signed

Read More

B/R: Ranking Top 25 Recruiting Classes After National Signing Day 2024

ESPN: Schools That Improved Their CFB Playoff Chances With 2024 Recruiting Classes

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  HIGHLIGHTS   🎥

🏒 NHL

Maple Leafs def. Stars (5-4)

Rangers def. Lightning (3-1)

Wild def. Blackhawks (2-1)

🏀 NCAA Basketball

M: #6 Tennessee def. LSU (88-68)

M: #9 Duke def. Notre Dame (71-53)

M: Michigan def. #11 Wisconsin (72-68)

M: #12 Auburn def. #16 Alabama (99-81)

M: Providence def. #19 Creighton (91-87, OT)

W: #24 Oklahoma def. TCU (72-55)

W: BYU def. #18 Baylor (78-66)

W: #11 UConn def. Seton Hall (67-34)

*Geno Auriemma Gets 1,200th Career Win

  STORYLINES  

🏈 2024 NFL Hall of Fame Finalists

Antonio Gates and Julius Peppers headline the 2024 NFL Hall of Fame finalists, but there are plenty of intriguing names on the ballot. Eric Allen, Jared Allen, Dwight Freeney and Rodney Harrison and return-man Devin Hester are also Canton hopefuls.(Sports Illustrated)

🏀 NBA All-Star Celeb Game Rosters

The NBA announced participants Wednesday for the 2024 NBA All-Star Celebrity Game, which will be played on Feb. 16 in Indianapolis. Young NFL stars like Cowboys LB Micah Parsons and Texans QB C.J. Stroud headline the rosters.(Bleacher Report)

⚽️ The USWNT’s Gold Cup Roster

Before the Stars and Stripes compete in the 2024 Summer Games in Paris, the USWNT will host the inaugural Concacaf W Gold Cup, slated to run from February 20 through March 10. But some superstars, like Alex Morgan, were left off the roster. (Sporting News)

  NEWS   📰 

• Tiger Woods Commits to Next Week’s Genesis Invitational as ‘Playing Host’(ESPN)
• High School Basketball Announcer Wrongly Accused of Racist Remarks Awarded $25 Million(SI)
• Rex Ryan Reportedly Interviewed for Cowboys’ Defensive Coordinator Job(Yahoo! Sports)
• Bowler Brandon Novak Arrested by U.S. Marshals in the Middle of 2024 U.S. Open Tournament(CBS Sports)

• Former NFL Receiver Chad Johnson Reportedly Joins Raiders Coaching Staff(Yardbarker)

• Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Wins Record $19.9 Million in Salary Arbitration Against Blue Jays(FOX Sports)

• Two-Time WNBA MVP Elena Delle Donne Reportedly Taking a Break From Basketball(ESPN)

  SCHEDULE   🗓️

Today's Must-Watch List

🚨 NBA

Trade Deadline (3:00 pm ET)

🏀 NBA

Warriors at Pacers (7:00 pm ET, NBALP)

Mavericks at Knicks (7:30 pm ET, TNT)

Timberwolves at Bucks (8:00 pm ET, NBALP)

Nuggets at Lakers (10:00 pm ET, TNT)

🏒 NHL

Canucks at Bruins (7:00 pm ET, ESPN+)

Capitals at Panthers (7:00 pm ET, ESPN+)

Avalanche at Hurricanes (7:00 pm ET, ESPN+)

Lightning at Islanders (8:00 pm ET, ESPN)

⛳️ PGA Tour

Waste Management Phoenix Open (All Weekend)

🏀 NCAAW

#12 Notre Dame at #15 Louisville (6:00 pm ET, ESPN)

Missouri at #1 South Carolina (7:00 pm ET, SECN)

#16 Virginia Tech at #3 NC State (8:00 pm ET, ACCN)

Penn State at #2 Iowa (9:00 pm ET, BTN)

#13 LSU at Vanderbilt (9:00 pm ET, SECN)

  THE TEAM  

Writer & Editor: Jeff Yoder

Lead Designer: Joe Stella

Assistant Writer: Marissa Kasch

Social Media: Aaron Yorke

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