Former Flacons wide receiver Roddy White is not a fan of 49ers’ head coach Kyle Shanahan.
White blamed Shanahan for being the primary reason that he was released by Atlanta in March of last year, claiming at the time that the former Falcons offensive coordinator wanted him “out of the (offense).” White’s agent even went so far as to say that Shanahan forced the team to choose between player and coordinator.
It should come as no surprise then that White had some strong words for Shanahan regarding the Falcons’ questionable late game play-calling that played a part in their shocking defeat at the hands of the New England Patriots in Super Bowl 51. After going up 28-3 in the third quarter, the Falcons elected to run the ball just four times for the remainder of the game. Atlanta also had the chance to put things to bed with a field goal late in the fourth quarter, but a sack of Matt Ryan on third down took them out of kicker Matt Bryant’s range. The Patriots would score and tie the game on the next drive.
White slammed Shanahan on a podcast with Jeff Schulz of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and Zach Klein of WSB TV, going so far as to say he would’ve fought Shanahan if he was still on the team.
“I was like, ‘That’s it. Game’s over. We’re going to have a parade. I’m going to fly back to Georgia. We’re going to have fun,” White said regarding his reaction after the first down catch from Julio Jones late in the fourth quarter. “I’m glad I wasn’t a part of that team because I probably literally would’ve fought (Shanahan).”
“You destroyed a dream for a city,” White said. “It’s bigger than me. The city of Atlanta needed that championship and you had it. Arthur Blank needed that championship and he deserved to win that game, with everything he’s been through. It was finally our time to win and it just hurt me that we didn’t get it done.”
White also claims he lost $40,000 betting on the Falcons.
White did not play in the NFL last year but is still considered a free agent. It seems unlikely that the 49ers, who need receivers badly, will be reaching out to White or his agent this offseason.