First, there was the "Shanahat." That was the phrase GM John Lynch used to describe Head Coach Kyle Shanahan's hat a few years ago. Lynch was a guest on KNBR's Murph and Mac show in September of 2021 and was asked what the plan was for recently drafted rookie quarterback Trey Lance. Lynch responded, "It's an organic thing. I talk to Kyle, but it's all under that Shanahat. It's given the flow of the game, if we use him, how we use him."
It wasn't the first time the word was used, but it was the first time I chose to use it in the title of an article. Come to think of it, it was the only time I ever used it. But now, there's a new word making the rounds, thanks in part to Shanahan's new look when he showed up for the wedding of Christian McCaffrey and Olivia Culpo on Saturday.
Kyle Shanahan, George Kittle, and Kyle Juszczyk on hand for Christian McCaffrey's and Olivia Culpo's wedding 🙌🏼#49ers || #FTTB pic.twitter.com/ZLpwWUbd2g
— OurSF49ers (@OurSf49ers) June 30, 2024
Shanahan showed up to the wedding with slicked-back hair and a new mustache, that Peter Panacy, of FanSided, referred to as the "Shanastache." In case you didn't recognize Shanahan in the image above, he's the guy on the right.
Will the #Shanastache be there, though? That's the question on the mind of all #49ers fans. https://t.co/9BnGtdgFp2
— Peter Panacy (@PeterPanacy) July 1, 2024
Fans of the team have had fun with the coach's new look, some saying he looks like he's part of the mob, and others saying they hope the "Shanastache" is here to stay. But the biggest question is, will Shanahan's new look put the team over the top and finally bring the elusive sixth Lombardi Trophy to the Bay Area? Forget the Brandon Aiyuk contract. Forget the draft picks, free agency moves, and the contract extensions to McCaffrey and Jauan Jennings. Forget that QB Brock Purdy gets to have a real offseason this year. Those topics are small news. The big news is the "Shanastache."
It's worked for Kansas City Chiefs coach Andy Reid. What if the success of the Chiefs has less to do with quarterback Patrick Mahomes, and more to do with Reid's mustache? Could Shanahan have figured something out?
In the Bible, Samson was a man of amazing strength. No one could figure out the source of his strength until he let his guard down and revealed his secret to a cute girl named Delilah. The secret to his strength was his hair. When he fell asleep one night, she cut his hair and his strength disappeared.
Could that be the secret to the 49ers finally beating the Chiefs in the Super Bowl? Have 49ers fans endured heartbreaking losses in big games because of the coach's lack of facial hair? What if Shanahan keeps the "Shanastache", and someone shaves off Reid's mustache? Will that put the 49ers over the top?
Or will we find out that it has nothing to do with the "Shanastache" and is something boring—like outplaying the other team? Nah, I'm sticking with the Samson theory. My early prediction for Super Bowl LIX, based on this new development:
