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San Francisco head coach Kyle Shanahan is tired of one particular 49ers media member’s negative reporting on the team, and he let it be known this week.
While speaking on the franchise’s ongoing negotiations with wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, Shanahan sarcastically mocked reporter Grant Cohn of Sports Illustrated’s FanNation site.
Cohn, who has a history of controversy with the team, writes for SI’s All 49ers. In the past, he’s been involved in back and forths with both current and former players, most recently going toe-to-toe with 6-5, 320-pound defensive lineman Javon Kinlaw.
Ahead of the 2022 season, Cohn called the big man out for his “80-year-old knees” and “immaturity.” Kinlaw later eviscerated him by saying his cojones were much larger.
Rather than make amends, the reporter celebrated his feud with the team he covers.
This is the type of low life we let into our building. He would rather antagonize and provoke players into hitting him so he can retire instead of doing his “job“ of journalism. pic.twitter.com/jL5ZGTq8yZ
— Arik Armstead (@arikarmstead) May 25, 2022
Others on Cohn’s list of angered Niners include Arik Armstead and George Kittle, who’ve taken offense to his negative rhetoric.
He can now add Kyle Shanahan.
The reporter asked the head coach about the situation with wideout Brandon Aiyuk during a recent press conference. In doing so, he “quoted” Shanahan’s past commentary on negotiations.
Kyle Shanahan just rocked a reporter when asked about WR Brandon Aiyuk 💀
“Knowing you, I don’t know if I exactly said that.”
(h/t @Coach_Yac)pic.twitter.com/VzrkWNevPX
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) July 23, 2024
Shanahan referenced Cohn’s tendency to create controversy in order to get a click, especially if it sheds a negative light on the franchise that continues to give him a seat in the audience.
The pettiness is unmatched!
San Francisco is currently trying to work out a deal with Aiyuk, who racked up a career-high 1,342 receiving yards last season. Shanahan’s been in this situation before with Deebo Samuel, who ultimately re-signed with the 49ers in 2022.
We’ll see if the two sides can reach an agreement before offseason’s end.