SANTA CLARA — The 49ers are taking a super-sized traveling party to Miami next week for Super Bowl LIV, and CEO Jed York explained why Friday, without confirming if those numbers include over 1,500 staff and their spouses on six charter flights.
“We’re taking a lot of people,” York said as he concluded an unscheduled and rare press conference. “We wanted to make sure that our entire staff had the opportunity to go.
“Everybody from Kyle and John, all the way down to interns, everyone’s been a part of this, and we wanted to make sure they’re there to help and also celebrate the moment that hopefully gets us over the hump.”
Hiring coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch three years ago kick started this Super Bowl expedition, which could lead to the 49ers’ first Lombardi Trophy in 25 years if they beat the Kansas City Chiefs on Feb. 2.
York said he’s ready to go to Miami now, but will wait to until Sunday, when the team also travels. He’s been deluged by so many ticket requests — such as a text from an acquaintance he hadn’t heard from in three years — that he’s considered changing his phone number.
What he’s not changing is his head coach or hierarchy, something he did in January 2015, January 2016, and January 2017. Now he’s simply “ready to go get our business done” in Miami, York said.
What attracted Shanahan to the 49ers, aside from obviously a six-year contract and the ability to hand-pick John Lynch as his general manager? An initial four-hour interview with York convinced him that winning a sixth Super Bowl was the franchise’s priority.
“Everyone says they’re trying to win every single year, but I don’t think all teams truly mean it,” Shanahan said. “You don’t want to go to a team that’s just a marketing firm.
“You want to go to a team that truly the most important thing is to win the Super Bowl. … I got to really believe in Jed.”
York made his first visit to the Levi’s Stadium’s 6-year-old media room to give his unscheduled press conference after Friday’s practice, and he reiterated many of the messages he had with this news organization after Sunday’s NFC Championship win. Mainly, he credited Shanahan and Lynch for a job well done — to this point — midway through their six-year contracts.
“It was two years of fixing what we needed to fix and knowing that this (now) is Year 1 of a four-year deal,” said York, who noted Sunday night he was open to extending those contracts.
In overhauling the roster and culture, York appreciated the emphasis from carrying on the past regime’s goal of investing in a “Super Bowl-caliber” defensive line, and once Nick Bosa remained on the draft board for them at No. 2 overall, York’s expectations grew accordingly.
“We have the ability to hopefully keep competing, but there’s a lot of work to be done,” York said. “When we were able to draft Nick, I thought that this was possible. … This is what we’ve always worked for.”
York sidestepped a question about whether the 49ers, if they win, would accept an invitation to the White House.
“I respect the office of the president. I’m not going to get into politics,” York said. “I hope that we have the decision to make. I hope we’re fortunate enough to get a call from the president.”
INVENTIVE GAME PLAN?
Shanahan’s Super Bowl game plan didn’t spring this week from the deep recesses of his clever mind. Or so he says. “You never store plays in the vault,” Shanahan said. “… No one ever really saves a play. There’s not a magical playbook.”
“I’d be very surprised if anyone in the history, going forward, can ever come up with a new play. There’s only five eligible (receivers). It’s probably been done before. It’s how you mix up those five guys and how you set stuff up.”
Nine months since taking their practice fields to start offseason workouts, the 49ers spent Thursday and Friday practicing the tactics they’ll employ in Super Bowl LIV on Feb. 2. Although Friday was the final official practice, they will hold a closed-door walk-through on Saturday and focus on red zone plays, then they’ll fly Sunday to Miami for Super Bowl week.
“If we had to play (this) Sunday, we’d be ready,” Shanahan said. “We will start over (with practice) Monday and Tuesday, and it will be nice we don’t have to reinvent the wheel. We know what we have. We have a week of tape where we can clean some stuff up or take some stuff out or some more stuff can come to us.”
INJURY UPDATES
Running back Tevin Coleman, five days after dislocating his right shoulder, did not officially practice but did partake in the preceding walk-through. Shanahan said Coleman’s Monday MRI came back with encouraging results, and Coleman has shown no hindrance the past couple days while working on the side with trainers.
#49ers having final full practice on own field before flying Sunday to #SuperBowlLIV
RB Tevin Coleman (shoulder) suited up, stretched with team, working on side with trainers
WR Dante Pettis returned from illness after not practicing Thursday
SS Tartt, LB Alexander still limited pic.twitter.com/L08RwcpQhL— Cam Inman (@CamInman) January 24, 2020
Wide receiver Dante Pettis returned from illness that kept him out of Thursday’s practice, the 49ers’ first session since their NFC Championship victory Sunday. Pettis did not play in that game nor the previous six.
Still in no-contact jerseys were strong safety Jaquiski Tartt (ribs) and linebacker Kwon Alexander (pectoral). They’ve been listed as limited, as has defensive end Dee Ford, who looks unbothered by this season’s hamstring and knee issues.
WARD’S FUTURE AT SAFETY
Jimmie Ward doesn’t know where he’ll play next season, but wherever he winds up as a pending free agent, he won’t be lining up anywhere at cornerback. Ward, who played this season on a one-year contract, made the pitch for himself.
“It means a lot because I might not be here next year,” Ward said of the stakes for him next Sunday. “It’s reality. It’s free agency … A lot of coaches — every level that I’ve played at — they try me at corner. They see corner inside of me. That’s cool, it means they respect me as a player. But I feel I can change the game at safety.”
His response to any team that approaches him about playing cornerback? “I’m good,” he said. “I can play it, but I don’t want to play corner.”
MOSTERT’S HOMETOWN HONOR
Super Bowl Sunday will double as Raheem Mostert Day in his Florida hometown of New Smyrna Beach.
In Friday’s proclamation by mayor Russ Owen, the city’s press release stated that Mostert will be honored: “He has shown great strength and perseverance in his journey. He focused on his dream and refused to allow setbacks to discourage him. … We commend him for showing the world that success is not final, failure is not fatal and it is the courage to continue that counts.”
Mostert became the first player in NFL history to rush for over 200 yards (a 49ers-record 220 yards) and four touchdowns in a playoff game, leading the 49ers to Sunday’s 37-20 victory over the Packers in the NFC Championship.
#SuperBowlSunday is also Raheem Mostert Day in #49ers running back's Florida hometown of New Smyrna Beach https://t.co/JbDUNpTImX
— Cam Inman (@CamInman) January 24, 2020
TRAVELING FANS
Shanahan hailed how strong the 49ers Faithful have been this season, especially in flocking to their road games.
“Our fans have been unbelievable this year. Every game we’ve gone to they’ve traveled unbelievably well,” Shanahan said. “The way they were in New Orleans (on Dec. 8) blew our minds. Seeing some see videos after the New Orleans game of our fans going down Bourbon Street, chanting our songs, it was very risky of them but also pretty cool.”
