Reuben Foster is back in the conversation, and this time it’s because he stepped in to defend Kyle Shanahan.
The former San Francisco 49ers linebacker weighed in after Brandon Aiyuk spent the past few weeks unloading on the franchise in an apparent push to get cut. Aiyuk had said he wanted to reunite with his former Arizona State teammate Jayden Daniels with the Washington Commanders, but that plan seemed to unravel after he brought up Daniels’ mother in one of his rants.
Aiyuk also claimed Shanahan disrespected him during a practice session. Foster answered that criticism on social media with a message that backed the coach’s style and the standard he expects from his players:
"I luv (defensive assistant) Johnny Holland, and my dawg (general manager) John Lynch. Ppl dont always understand Kyle coaching style, but I’ve liv it.
Tough coaching isnt hate it’s accountability. Saban built champs the same way.
Kyle has a job to do, like he expects every player to do theirs. There are levels to this."
For Foster, it was a rare public reaction to an NFL storyline after a long stretch away from the spotlight. And it brought his own 49ers story back into focus.
San Francisco made Foster the 31st overall pick in 2017, the second player selected under the Kyle Shanahan-John Lynch regime. He arrived from Alabama with a national title and unanimous All-American honors, and he was originally expected to back up before earning a starting role at right outside linebacker after Malcolm Smith was injured.
His first NFL game showed the kind of impact the 49ers hoped for: three solo tackles and a pass deflection against the Carolina Panthers before he left early with what looked like an ankle injury. Foster didn’t return until Week 7, when NaVorro Bowman’s release opened the door for him to move to middle linebacker. By the end of the year, he had 72 tackles, including 59 solo stops, and landed on the All-Rookie team.
The football part of Foster’s career, though, was quickly overtaken by off-field issues. Legal troubles involving marijuana possession and domestic violence led to his suspension and then his release from the 49ers in 2018. Washington claimed him off waivers, but he never played a game for the franchise before his contract expired after the 2020 season.
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