Mike McDaniel shares thoughts on facing Shanahan, 49ers for first time

The careers of Mike McDaniel and Kyle Shanahan have been tied together for years.

From Houston to Atlanta and finally, in San Francisco, McDaniel and Shanahan worked on the same coaching staff for 16 years.

But this Sunday, the two will be on opposing sidelines. McDaniel left San Francisco after last season to become the head coach of the Miami Dolphins. Since taking over, the Dolphins have been an offensive machine, currently tied for first in the AFC East with Buffalo Bills at 8-3.

When speaking to the media, McDaniel said his goal is to make this week more about the players than about himself.

“I have a lot of love for anybody that I worked with, especially for that extended period of time,” McDaniel said. “So those relationships and people will always matter to me. But in terms of this week, it will be odd for a second, for sure, to be in a different locker room, or pulling up on the bus in a weird area, or being on a different sideline for a second, I’m assuming – just odd as in abnormal. But after that, my obligation is to serve each and every player and coach and try to get the best out of them.

The Dolphins coach went on to praise Shanahan as one of “the best, if not the best, offensive coaches and head coaches” that he’s worked with.

“I will not be undertaking any Oklahoma drills as well this week on the field with him,” McDaniel joked.

As the former offensive coordinator for the 49ers, he spent plenty of practices facing off against Nick Bosa and the defense. When asked how concerned he is about facing the staunch 49ers defense, he said if Bosa has a pulse, “you’re concerned.” He went on to tell a story of how Bosa would do pass rush drills on hand sanitizer pods or other inanimate objects.

“I think from an offensive staff perspective, you have to do your due diligence to try to minimize him as best you can, knowing that you’re never going to stop him and he lives and breathes pass rushing,” McDaniel said.

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