The San Francisco 49ers finally broke a decades-long drought in Cleveland, picking up their first win there since 1984. But while the victory itself was noteworthy, it was a decision made before the opening kickoff that really raised eyebrows - and may signal a shift in Kyle Shanahan’s long-standing philosophy.
For years, Shanahan has been a firm believer in deferring when winning the coin toss. The strategy makes sense: get the ball to start the second half, and if you can score late in the first half, you get a chance to “lap” your opponent - double up on possessions and potentially swing the momentum in your favor. It's a common tactic among analytically inclined coaches, and Shanahan has stuck to it religiously.
But on Sunday in Cleveland, Shanahan flipped the script. The 49ers won the toss and chose to receive.
That decision wasn’t random. The weather in Cleveland was a factor - the kind of day where the forecast reads like a checklist of football headaches: rain, snow, and winds gusting over 20 miles per hour.
In those conditions, getting on the board early - especially when the wind is at your back - can be a smart move. And that’s likely what Shanahan was thinking.
Strike early, play with a lead, and take advantage of the relatively mild conditions before the weather turned nastier.
But here’s the thing: this might be more than just a one-off weather call. It might be time for Shanahan to consider making this a more regular part of his game plan.
Why? Because right now, the 49ers' offense is humming.
Earlier in the season, injuries slowed them down, but they've mostly gotten healthy again - with the notable exception of Brandon Aiyuk, whose future with the team remains uncertain. Even without Aiyuk, this is a unit that can move the ball and put points on the board quickly.
On the other side of the ball, the defense - while still performing at a high level - is dealing with some serious attrition. Losing Fred Warner, Nick Bosa, and Mykel Williams for the season is a major blow. And although the Niners have given up just nine points to the Panthers and eight to the Browns in their last two outings, the depth is being tested.
This is where the logic of receiving the ball starts to make more sense. When you’ve got an offense that’s healthy and productive, and a defense that’s holding on through injuries, why not lean into your strength? Put your best unit on the field first, try to grab an early lead, and let your defense play downhill with a cushion.
It also plays into the identity this team has had under Shanahan. The Niners are built to play from ahead.
They’re at their best when they can dictate tempo, use the run game to control the clock, and let their pass rush tee off. But when they fall behind early, things can get dicey.
That’s not a knock - it’s just the reality of how this team is constructed.
And with opponents like Jonathan Taylor and the Colts on the horizon, it’s easy to envision a scenario where deferring could put the 49ers in a hole early. If Taylor gets going and the Niners are playing catch-up, that’s not the kind of game script Shanahan wants.
So while the decision to receive in Cleveland may have been driven by the weather, it also revealed something bigger: a willingness to adapt. And for a team with championship aspirations, that flexibility could be just as important as any play drawn up on the whiteboard.
Shanahan’s known for his offensive ingenuity. Maybe now, he’s starting to apply that same creativity to the coin toss.