Shanahan clears the air on 49ers’ sideline tension – all is well.
Kyle Shanahan didn’t think much of the sideline incident at first, but with media buzz around it, he felt it was worth addressing.
The 49ers’ win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday wasn’t the only thing people were talking about; a brief but intense sideline clash between wide receiver Deebo Samuel and long snapper Taybor Pepper grabbed a lot of attention.
Calling the incident an “overreaction,” Shanahan explained on Monday that it was resolved within the team. He noted that Pepper “overreacted a little bit” when Samuel pushed kicker Jake Moody to elevate his performance. This led to Samuel shoving Pepper, causing the moment to spiral briefly.
Kyle Shanahan assured reporters that any issues between Samuel and Pepper are settled, and the team has already moved forward.
The spark occurred late in the game, during San Francisco’s close 23-20 win over Tampa Bay. With just over three minutes left, kicker Jake Moody missed his third field goal attempt, a 44-yard try that sailed wide.
Samuel, feeling “frustrated” and acknowledging he “got out of character a little bit” afterward, approached Moody on the sideline to encourage him to “lock in.” However, Pepper wasn’t pleased with Samuel offering advice in that tense moment, leading to a heated exchange.
Moody, meanwhile, stayed calm, saying after the game, “I do have to make those kicks at the end of the day, so that’s all I’m focused on.”
After meeting with his players on Monday, Shanahan seemed to understand Samuel’s reaction, comparing it to how he often motivates players facing tough moments during games.
No fines were issued for the altercation, as Shanahan clarified he only fines players for rule violations, and in this case, it was just “people being football players,” assuring everyone he didn’t see it as a significant issue.
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