theathleticuk
SANTA CLARA, Calif.
Kyle Shanahan made it out to the practice field for about 30 minutes Sunday afternoon.
The 49ers coach is still recovering from a car accident that left him with cracked ribs, a broken nose, a black eye and a concussion, but players knew he wouldnt be able to stay away for the first drills of training camp.
Advertisement The guy is obsessed with ball, so of course hes going to be around, linebacker Fred Warner said.
At the end of practice, the team gathered around and heard an impassioned salute from assistant head coach Chris Foerster, 64, who is running training camp while Shanahan is on the mend with the help of the coordinators and some of the players themselves.
I just love this football team, he said.
I love how hard they work, the energy, the effort.
By far we have a reason to come out and practice tomorrow weve got a lot more work to do but I really love the energy and the attitude of the guys when they come to work.
Foersters been in the NFL for 34 years 11 with Shanahan in Washington and San Francisco and has been coaching the offensive line since 1983.
He knows Kyle inside and out, what Kyle wants, what Kyle needs, general manager John Lynch said.
Weve got guys like (offensive coordinator) Klay Kubiak, (defensive coordinator) Raheem Morris, obviously, who has head coach experience, (special teams coordinator) Brant Boyer.
The list goes on and on.
And I think one of the great things Kyle does, aside from coaching his team, is leading this organization, and I think hes a tremendous developer of his staff and so were not going to miss a beat.
One of the reasons Foerster was so fired up to break down the team after practice Sunday was that Lynch had suggested that he might delegate that responsibility.
Chris is kind of a grouchy guy, Lynch said, smiling.
He doesnt really believe in breakdowns and all that, so Raheem may do the breakdowns.
Fred may do the breakdowns.
Foerster agreed that he is not a big speech guy, just a lifer who enjoys talking ball.
I like talking about technique and fundamentals.
..
John made fun of it yesterday he didnt think I was a breakdown guy.
And I challenge grumpy, but ..
I think maybe I am a little grumpy.
Advertisement Foerster prefers to watch the video of practice before telling players whether it was a good or bad one, but Sunday was different.
I got a little fired up because I was challenged, and I told the team how much I love the way they practice and the energy they bring every day.
Offensive tackle Trent Williams was watching Foerster address the team and cracked a big smile.
He played for Foerster back in Washington in 2010 and considers the coach family.
It sounded like it was second nature just watching him address the team, Williams said.
Hes been doing this longer than everybody in that locker rooms been alive, probably except for me.
So, its like a hand in glove fit, man.
Im so proud of him, just watching him just be a head coach for a day or no matter how long it is.
Foerster has coached with the Vikings, Buccaneers, Colts, Dolphins, Ravens, 49ers, Washington, 49ers again and Dolphins again before joining the 49ers for good in 2019.
He helped game plan and then took over as offensive line coach in 2021 and then became Shanahans right-hand man in 2022 when Mike McDaniel left to become head coach of the Dolphins.
Foerster said he is fired up, but not because he is in charge after all these years or anything like that.
I love the opportunity to help, Foerster said.
What I learned a long, long time ago, I believe leadership is you serve in leadership.
You help people by serving.
And servant leadership is any way I can help.
Any way I can help Kyle, John or the players.
Thats where I get a charge out of life.
I learned that through a lot of difficult times in my life.
Foerster resigned as Dolphins offensive line coach in 2017 to seek medical help after a social media video surfaced in which he appeared to snort a white powdery substance at his desk.
Shanahan was there for Foerster, to the point where Foerster said he might cry when asked about Shanahans car accident.
Advertisement Hes family to me, this whole organization, Foerster said.
Ive known Kyle for a long time.
Hes one of my best friends in the world, by far.
Theres not many people that I call friend, for a lot of reasons, and Kyle is one of them.
He did some things for me and pulled me in at a time in my life when nobody would really wanna be with me ..
that loyalty is never gonna be forgotten.
The only advice Shanahan has given Foerster this week was to do whatever he has to do Shanahan has confidence in him and when in doubt, delegate it to somebody else.
One change that Foerster has made is to the structure of team meetings.
Instead of me running every team meeting, well split up in offense and defense and Raheem and Klay will do that, Foerster said.
One of the greatest things that Kyle does is how he leads a team and talks football, teaches the team football, and teaches the team everything.
Thats not going to fall on me ..
(because) Kyle is an outstanding head coach.
Kyle usually sits up here and talks football for 30 minutes, Lynch added.
Were not going to try to replicate that.
I believe our culture kind of speaks for itself, and we believe that our culture is the people, and Chris is one of those who we think very highly of.
But as he showed after practice Sunday, Foerster will speak up when he has to.
When he talks, everybody listens and everybody has a ton of respect for him, Williams said.
And I think hes the mouth you want to address your team if Coach Shanahan cant.