The San Francisco 49ers have faced criticism following their 25-22 Super Bowl loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, particularly for head coach Kyle Shanahan’s decision to receive the ball in overtime after winning the toss. Many players on the 49ers admitted they were not aware of the playoff overtime rules that allowed both teams to possess the ball.
The Super Bowl in Las Vegas marked only the second overtime in the event’s history and the first under a March 2022 rule change. This change eliminated the possibility of a team winning outright on the first possession with a touchdown. Defensive lineman Arik Armstead expressed surprise at the new rule, stating, “I didn’t even really know what was going on in terms of that.”
After winning the coin toss, the 49ers opted for a 27-yard field goal, taking a 22-19 lead. However, the Chiefs responded with a 75-yard drive, ultimately securing the Vince Lombardi Trophy with a three-yard touchdown pass from Patrick Mahomes to Mecole Hardman.
Several 49ers players, including fullback Kyle Juszczyk, admitted not being aware of the different playoff overtime rules. Juszczyk mentioned, “I guess that’s not the case. I don’t totally know the strategy there. We hadn’t talked about it, no.”
The NFL’s overtime rules had faced criticism earlier in January 2022 after the Buffalo Bills’ offense never got a chance in their playoff loss to the Chiefs. The rules at that time allowed a team to win with a touchdown or tie with a field goal if their opponent kicked a field goal on the first possession.
Shanahan claimed that he and his analytics team discussed overtime possibilities before the Super Bowl. However, members of the Chiefs, including head coach Andy Reid, stated their analytics showed it was better to kick off in overtime. Reid acknowledged Shanahan’s decision, saying, “He’s a pretty smart guy, so there’s gotta be a reason why he [chose to receive the ball first].”
