The San Francisco 49ers’ Week 15 loss to the Los Angeles Rams under coach Kyle Shanahan was a tough one, but who thought it would have the potential to start a social media drama, courtesy of Jimmy Garoppolo’s brother, Billy?
Thursday Night Football saw a massive fall for the 49ers as wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr.’s struggles in key moments at Levi’s Stadium, including a key drop in the third quarter of a tied game, became the center of attention as the Rams further dashed the 49ers’ playoff hopes.
Mina Kimes Chooses Sides With Kyle Shanahan Amid Verbal Battle
Samuel’s expensive misstep was felt hard throughout the San Francisco community, and the cameras caught head coach Kyle Shanahan looking visibly dejected. That’s when Billy Garoppolo decided to pounce, as he threw shade at the picture of Shanahan’s disappointed expression on Instagram with the caption, “Offensive Guru 😂😂😂.”
The post didn’t sit well with everyone, including NFL analyst Mina Kimes, who posted on X (formerly known as Twitter), “I usually like spicy sibling posts, but this is pretty out of pocket given what Shanahan’s offense did for him,” referencing Jimmy’s time in San Francisco.
I usually like spicy sibling posts but this is pretty out of pocket given what Shanahan's offense did for him https://t.co/N0JV4YEjOi
— Mina Kimes (@minakimes) December 13, 2024
Jimmy played under Shanahan from 2017 to 2022 and led the team to a Super Bowl and an NFC championship but struggled to stay healthy. His departure from San Francisco may have left some lingering resentment — at least for his brother. Billy’s jab comes after Jimmy joined the rival Rams earlier this year, but Kimes knows better than Billy to respect the past.
Shanahan, meanwhile, has bigger things to worry about than the drama and buildup on social media. The 49ers were Super Bowl contenders last year, ending the season with a 12-5 record. However, the team is now capped by the 12-6 loss at home, leaving fans frustrated and their playoff hopes on thin ice.
The 49ers’ head coach acknowledged Samuel’s lapse, saying that he expected better from one of his star players.
“That was a big one,” Shanahan told reporters after the loss. “Third down, and with Deebo’s skillset, I would’ve been shocked if he didn’t score on the play. Everyone knows the answer to that, Deebo too, he needs to catch that ball.”
Kyle Shanahan on Deebo's drop that could've been a touchdown:
"Yeah, that was a big one. Everyone knows the answer there, Deebo knows he needs to catch that."
— Clayton Holloway (@HollowayNFLN) December 13, 2024
Samuel also responded to the doubters on social media, exclaiming, “Not struggling at all, just not getting the ball!!!!!!” amid the backlash, but he explained his side via Sports Illustrated. Though the two differ in their opinions, Shanahan is clear in his standing. He expected a better performance from the offense in contrast to the defense, which was on point, in his opinion.