JC Deep Dive: The new coaching staff

Bringing Shanahan magic to Florham Park

Mike LaFleur, offensive coordinator

San Francisco 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan valued passing game coordinator Mike LaFleur so much, he refused to allow him to leave to work for his brother, Green Bay coach Matt LaFleur, when he got the Packers heading coach job in 2019.

“I was never tempted,” Shanahan said. “It was very easy, and I looked forward to saying, ‘No,’ very quickly. As quick as I can. I mean, and I get the family stuff and everything, and I’m sure if things got pretty rough for a while, eventually I would’ve softened up and given in — maybe. But Mike’s my coordinator, and he does a hell of a job. He’s a really talented guy, and we put a lot of work in together. I feel very fortunate to have him this year, and I plan on staying that way until he gets a head coach job.”

Well, Shanahan actually softened his stance two years later when he let Mike LaFleur leave to become Robert Saleh’s offensive coordinator with the Jets.

LaFleur owes a lot to Shanahan. Following a few stops for LaFleur as a small-college assistant, Shanahan got him into the league in 2014 with the Cleveland Browns, where Shanahan was offensive coordinator. Then he followed Shanahan to Atlanta and on to San Francisco. So after several years of learning the Shanahan way, LaFleur brings this prized system to Florham Park, and Saleh is excited to have him.