49ers’ Kyle Shanahan, Packers’ Matt LaFleur ‘totally good’ ahead of playoff game

San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan and Matt LaFleur of the Green Bay Packers did not share the warmest of handshakes after the Packers rallied from behind to defeat the Niners in Week 3 back in September: 

As Josh Alper noted for Pro Football Talk, Shanahan and LaFleur worked together as part of multiple NFL franchises earlier in their careers, and the two are longtime friends who happen to share an on-the-field conference rivalry. Shanahan spoke with reporters Monday about his counterpart as the two prepare for Saturday’s playoff game between the 49ers and Packers at Lambeau Field.

“Matt’s my guy. Matt and I are totally good,” Shanahan explained, per David Bonilla of 49ers WebZone. “I was pissed after that game because of how the game just ended. That was a tough one. It took a while to get over. But we’re good. I talked to Matt a lot. He’s done a hell of a job this year. I’ve been real happy for him, but that stops this week.”

The Packers downed the 49ers on Sept. 26 via a game-ending field goal made by Mason Crosby. Shanahan will be hoping for a different ending this time around but has a new concern at the beginning of this week, as starting quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo is now dealing with a sprained right (throwing) shoulder to go along with the Grade 3 sprain of the ulnar collateral ligament in his right thumb and chipped bone he carried into Sunday’s playoff win at the Dallas Cowboys. 

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