Santa Clara County executive Dr. Jeff Smith fired back Monday at 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan’s “extreme disappointment” over how the franchise learned of a county contact sports ban forcing the team to play at least its next two home games in Arizona.
In his postgame comments Sunday, Shanahan did not challenge Santa Clara County’s health orders or the reasoning behind it, which is to stem a severe surge in COVID-19 cases. But the 49ers coach lashed out at the vast uncertainty that accompanied Saturday’s directives. Shanahan and his team only learned of their December eviction as they headed to Los Angeles for Sunday’s game.
Smith’s response Monday:
“We have been in contact with the 49ers for months on a regular basis, including discussions about their recent outbreak. The 49ers clearly have been aware of the rising case rates here and around the country, the fact that hospitals are filling, and the challenges they and other teams have had in controlling transmission between players, staff, and families.
“The situation has been the subject of discussion throughout the NFL. The decision by the NFL to stop activities in the last few days is evidence of the fact that even the NFL recognizes the seriousness of the pandemic. It is hard for me to believe that the 49ers were surprised by the new orders given how serious the situation is both locally and across the country.
“They received a notice of the new orders as soon as the orders were finalized, at the same time we notified the thousands of businesses impacted in the community. It is impossible to notify anyone of the final decisions before they are made.”
The 49ers announced Monday morning they will move their upcoming two home games from Levi’s Stadium to the Arizona Cardinals’ State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. After that, the 49ers play at the Dallas Cowboys on Dec. 20 before returning to State Farm Stadium to face the Cardinals in a road game on Dec. 26.
The 49ers have not announced where they will host their Jan. 3 regular-season finale against the Seattle Seahawks. Santa Clara County’s 14-day quarantine directive for out-of-state travelers could be lifted in time to allow that game at Levi’s Stadium, as unlikely as that may be.
Smith seemed baffled that the 49ers and other sports teams are even playing amid a pandemic.
“Historically, sportsmanship has been about building a team and protecting that team,” Smith said. “Coaches, managers and owners used to want to protect their players from harm. Those values seem to have been placed on hold during the COVID pandemic.
“If leaders want to protect their teams and communities, they should not play anywhere until it is safe. One might envision a reemergence of team-building if the teams spent their time building a COVID relief fund for the community rather than trying to put the community at more risk.”
Those comments won’t go over well with Shanahan or the 49ers, who, like other NFL teams, have been subject to daily testing for COVID-19 the past four months. Shanahan has been intentional not to minimize the risk of COVID-19 in his complaints this season about some elements of county rulings, though he was fined $100,000 by the NFL for not properly wearing a mask on the sideline in the 49ers’ season opener.
“It was a very disappointing thing we got yesterday,” Shanahan said Sunday about the county’s new directives. “Our organization has been working their tails off since training camp with the county, trying to do this above and beyond all the NFL protocols and (county) protocols, whether it’s masks, training or getting tested every single day.
“I don’t think you can do possibly more than anyone in this country, all NFL teams, not just us. We’ve been working with (the county) as a partner trying to figure it out.
“For us to head here (to Los Angeles) yesterday, and the relationship we have with them, and for all our players and coaches and everyone on that plane and our wives, to find that out while we were getting on a plane and no one to tell us, it was just extremely disappointing,” Shanahan said. “We can handle anything and we understand how big of a deal this virus is. That’s why we’re so committed and why we feel we’ve done it as good as we can, and not only protected ourselves but also really protected our community.”
No 49ers were available for comment Monday. Shanahan will hold his day-after-game press conference on Tuesday once there is more clarity on the team’s travel plans.
