Unstoppable. Dominant. Criminally underrated. These are just some of the adjectives used to describe the Atlanta Falcons offense this season. Simply put, they’ve been the best offense in the NFL this year and the coach calling the plays on offense has been a big part of the equation.
Kyle Shanahan has struck gold this year with the sheer amount of weapons at his disposal. Matt Ryan and Julio Jones are the headliners. But, it’s the other pieces that he’s helped put in place, Devonta Freeman, Tevin Coleman, Taylor Gabriel, Mohamed Sanu, and others that have turned the Falcons offense into a machine that leads the league in scoring and is near the top of several offensive categories.
How has Shanahan found so much success this year? Starting right guard Chris Chester told ESPN’s Dan Graziano that it’s his knowledge of the game, going as far to say that the 37-year old “may be the best I’ve ever seen in terms of X’s and O’s.” Shanahan has been around football for practically his whole life. Having a Super Bowl winning head coach as a dad will help that cause.
But, the journey hasn’t been always smooth. After his college days at Texas were done, he quickly moved up the ranks from grad assistant to position coach to the youngest offensive coordinator in the NFL with the Houston Texans. Then came a tumultuous tenure with his dad in Washington and disagreement with the front office regarding the Johnny Manziel experience in Cleveland.
Now, with less than 48 hours to go before he calls the biggest game of his life against the NFL’s top defense in the New England Patriots, he’s dealing with his current team and with his projected new team. Shanahan is slated to take the San Francisco 49ers head coaching job after the Super Bowl. He will take control of a team that faces a long, tough rebuild ahead.
Even with that in mind, Shanahan is focused on one final game with his current team this year. He told reporters from CSN Bay Area earlier this week he wanted “no regrets” and that he is “100-percent committed to thinking this.” He hopes that he can put together one more game plan that can lead the Falcons to the summit of pro football with their first-ever championship.
Brought to you by:
