Super Bowl winner Logan Ryan 'blown away' by similarities between Bill Belichick & 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan
Logan Ryan worked with several coaches over his 11 years in the NFL. However, Bill Belichick and Kyle Shanahan stand tall on that list. During his last year in pro football, the two-time Super Bowl champion found several similarities between his first and last NFL coach.
Ryan was drafted by the New England Patriots under Bill Belichick in 2013 and parted ways with him in 2016. In cornerback’s last season in the NFL (2023), he linked up with Kyle Shanahan at the San Francisco 49ers and made a Super Bowl run.
In an appearance on ‘The Ross Tucker Podcast’ on Tuesday, Logan Ryan revealed his astonishment and luck at finding Shanahan to be like Belichick.
“He reminds me of a savant, like a genius like Bill”, said Ryan about Kyle Shanahan. “He's able to simplify the game for every position, and every position feels like their job's easy because they work together. And obviously, Kyle's more offensive and Bill's more defensive, but the general fundamentals of blocking and tackling.”
“The way that the 49ers block on offense is so much so similar how to the Patriots tackle on defense. So, I just thought, ‘This guy is the closest thing I've been to since Bill’. I was really, really blown away and impressed.” (13:11 – 13:49)
One major difference between the coaches for Ryan stands to be the Super Bowl 2015 win with Belichick but a loss last season with Shanahan.
Logan Ryan opens up on retirement call
Ryan took many by surprise after announcing his retirement early this year. On the podcast, Logan Ryan said that it was his mother’s concerns that made him choose this path.
“My mom didn't want to watch the games anymore”, said Ryan. “My mom's like, ‘How much longer you're going to play? How much longer you're going to keep getting hurt?’ We understand the stresses, of playing this sport."
"And I was like, ‘You know what? I think I did everything I wanted to do and I'm ready for the next chapter.’” (06:31 – 6:53)
In his next chapter, Ryan has taken up a broadcaster job with CBS and will cover college football games from this season.