Why Emmitt Smith was impressed with Kyle Shanahan, 49ers this season

Head coach Kyle Shanahan has earned the respect of a longtime San Francisco 49ers rival, former Dallas Cowboys running back Emmitt Smith. Smith and his son, Stanford running back E.J. Smith, sat down with Jennifer Lee Chan of NBC Sports Bay Area this week. The former Cowboy shared why he was so impressed with Shanahan this season.

Shanahan is known for putting his offensive players in positions to thrive on the football field. He knows how to use each, showcasing their abilities while attacking a defense’s weaknesses.

“But beyond that, he does more,” Smith said. “I mean, think about what he had to manage through this year. I mean, the loss of his starting quarterback. Then you’re backup quarterback. And you come in with Mr. Irrelevant, and you lead your team, still, to the NFC Championship Game, and you lose Mr. Irrelevant. And you have to rely on just hodgepodge at that point.

“But to keep his team intact and to keep them focused and committed to trying to get there, that’s a feat all by itself. So he has a lot to be proud of. The Niners have a lot to be proud of. They overcame so many obstacles all season long, and so I got kudos and nothing but respect for what they do.”

That Mr. Irrelevant is Brock Purdy, the last overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. Injuries to Trey Lance and Jimmy Garoppolo thrust the rookie quarterback into the starting lineup. Purdy’s success was an intriguing NFL storyline this season.

The 49ers made it to the NFC Championship Game with Purdy at the helm of the offense. The quarterback did not lose a game until that matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles. He might have guided his team to Super Bowl 57 had he not suffered a tear of the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in his right elbow during the first quarter.

Has Smith seen a rookie quarterback take the NFL by storm like that in recent years?

“No, I have not,” Smith responded. “Not that I can think of, anyway, especially to have the level of success that he was able to have. And that’s a testament to coaching. That’s a testament to Brock Purdy actually spending the time to know the offense inside out, and knowing how to play his role, and not trying to do too much. To me, that’s all coaching, helping him understand how to alleviate all the other pressures.

“That’s him knowing the offense, which is great teaching, great coaching, and spending that time with a kid that obviously showed up and showed the world that he could still play football. And he’s not Mr. Irrelevant. He’s very much relevant.”