49ers' Kyle Shanahan asked staff to review OT rules with players - ESPN

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Before the San Francisco 49ers started their latest postseason run, coach Kyle Shanahan sat down with the team's analytics staff and went through the potential scenarios for a game that might reach overtime.

The NFL installed new rules for postseason overtime in March 2022 that would allow for each team to get a possession regardless of what the team with the ball first does (unless there is a defensive score). But the Niners had not been involved in an overtime game in the playoffs in that time.

All of which made what happened in Sunday night's Super Bowl LVIII loss to the Kansas City Chiefs uncharted territory for both teams.

After multiple Niners said after the game they were not aware of the overtime setup, Shanahan said Tuesday he had laid out a plan with his staff before the playoffs began. He said he also instructed his assistant coaches to let the team know before the overtime period started but did not feel the need to discuss that plan with his team before that point.

«We told everyone as we were waiting for the coin toss to review everyone to make sure they're sure before we go out,» Shanahan said. «So, we asked position coaches to do that. But I didn't cover it in a meeting on the Super Bowl week. I don't think that changes anything.»

Multiple 49ers said Tuesday that whether they knew the specifics of the rule or not did not change the fact that they needed to try to score on offense and get a stop to beat the Chiefs and claim the franchise's long-awaited sixth Lombardi Trophy.

Quarterback Brock Purdy said quarterbacks coach Brian Griese did indeed give him a heads up on the rules at the end of regulation.

«He explained the rules to me and everything so I had an understanding of it,»