Falcons: Kyle Shanahan reveals what was going through his head during Super Bowl LI

The 2016 run was magical for the entire city of Atlanta as the Falcons, at one point, held a 25-point second-half lead. Eventually, the Patriots, led by Tom Brady, would come charging back to win in overtime. The fallout afterward was… interesting, to say the least. Kyle Shanahan’s play-calling as Falcons offensive coordinator was immediately scrutinized, but the team’s defensive breakdown didn’t face similar levels of criticism.

If there were one or two plays he could take back, it would have to be the play call that resulted in a sack on second-and-11. On the Flying Coach podcast with Peter Schrager and Sean McVay, Shanahan divulged.

What was going through Kyle Shanahan's head during Super Bowl LI? Find out on the 'Flying Coach' podcast with @PSchrags and Sean McVay here: pic.twitter.com/FIihpNSPrI

— The Ringer (@ringer) July 7, 2021

He explained the sequence of plays that led up to that negative play, which would eventually cost the Falcons the Super Bowl, was caused by a feeling he had watching Brady drive the Patriots’ offense up and down the field. He thought to himself, “If we get this ball back, I’m not waiting. We gotta go.” Then, in what is quite possibly the greatest catch in Super Bowl history, Julio Jones would give the Falcons an incredible jolt of energy with a miraculous catch.

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On the next play, the Falcons ran the ball, which resulted in a second-and-10. Shanahan then references an earlier play in the game in which the Patriots defense stuffed a run on the exact same down and distance. So, he thought to himself, “I’m going right back to Julio.” Shanahan said the play call that resulted in a sack was dead from the get-go as the coverage immediately took Jones away in what seemed like the exact right call — I mean, who wouldn’t go to Julio Jones on that play. He admits that it was the wrong call — something I’m sure can’t be easy.

After Ryan was sacked, Shanahan thought to himself, “Oh my god, why did I just try and end it?” Now, the Falcons needed to try and get back in field goal range, so inevitably, another pass was called. Mohamed Sanu took a five-yard out 12 yards for a first down, but Jake Matthews was called for holding Chris Long — negating the first down. Shanahan admits, which should’ve been obvious, that he wishes he called a different play call — isolating this one moment as the difference maker.