The two coaches started working together with the Washington Football Team. Shanahan was the offensive coordinator, and McVay started as an offensive assistant, often helping in the game-day preparations for Shanahan in a quality-control role.
Shanahan recently joined the Flying Coach podcast, hosted by McVay and NFL Network's Peter Schrager. The two had some entertaining stories about their history together, and McVay shared one about really angering his then-boss.
"Early on in the season, we go to Philly, and I'm responsible for the call sheet," McVay shared. "And as a play-caller (now), Kyle and I have kind of taken on the same rhythm and routine that he does. You make all your notes on the play sheet, but you're really particular and specific about it.
"When it's going to be potentially a rainy game, he and I are both guys that like to write on the play sheet, and so, if it's going to be a rainy game, you've got to laminate the call sheet, OK?"
Shanahan laughed, knowing exactly the story McVay was about to share.
"So, we're in Philly, like Week 4," McVay continued. "Hey, nobody gave me the memo. Matt (LaFleur) was the quality control coach before. They just said, 'Hey, you've got to laminate Kyle's call sheet before, if there's a threat for rain.' What he didn't tell me was (to) make a copy of the original, laminate the extra copy, and so then, if it does rain, then you've got the equipment guy, 'Here you go. We're ready to deal.'"
McVay laminated the only copy of Shanahan's call sheet, thinking that was what he was supposed to do.
"We get up to the booth, and the rain has now stopped," McVay said. "Me and Matt LaFleur are right next to each other, and Kyle says, 'Hey, where is my original call sheet? I know this is the copy that's laminated.' And I said, 'What the hell you talking about, man?'"
Shanahan was not too happy with his assistant, who failed to have a non-laminated copy ready to go.
"Kyle was pissed, and I would be so pissed too (now)," McVay shared. "And I said, 'Hey, I don't know what to tell you. It's about to kick off, and that's the only copy you've got. ... And Matt's just looking at me, and Kyle was ready to kill me."
The 49ers coach was asked how furious he was at that moment.
"I was so pissed," Shanahan responded while explaining that mistakes from McVay were rare. "... Matt's up there like, 'I can't believe you did that.' And I'm downstairs like, 'I would never do this (as a QC coach).' And Sean's like, 'You guys are messed up, man. You've just got to deal with it.'"
It was one of many amusing stories from the lengthy interview, which you can listen to in its entirety below.
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