How Shanahan’s phone call ended Williams’ contract suspension with the 49ers Originally appeared in NBC Bay Area Sports
One phone call was all it took.
After months of resisting and standing firm while waiting for safety with a new contractTrent Williams received a phone call from 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan last Sunday, eight days before San Francisco’s 2024 season opener, that put an end to the madness.
“We need you,” Shanahan told the All-Pro left tackle, as shared by Dianna Russini of The Athletic in his last column.
The 49ers faced Two very public contractual sagas this offseason, one with Williams and the other with star wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk.
Aiyuk showed up to training camp and even traveled with the team to Las Vegas for their preseason game against the Raiders. Eventually, a deal was reached and Aiyuk signed a four-year extension For an estimated value of 120 million dollars.
But things were different with Williams, who made it clear he wouldn’t budge even as the fines for not showing up to camp piled up.
“You know the only way you’re going to get me off the field is on a stretcher,” Williams told Shanahan during the phone call. “I’m fully committed to giving you my entire physical and mental being if you can provide me with the safety I need off the field for my family.”
The two, whose special bond dates back to their time together with the Washington Commanders when Williams was a rookie in 2010, shared their thoughts and feelings and listened to each other.
An agreement was reached shortly afterwards.
Williams and the 49ers agreed to a Contract renewed for three years and 82.66 million dollarsWilliams got the stability he craved and the 49ers got their most important player back.
Before that crucial phone call, Williams and Shanahan had been silent for more than two months. No texts, no calls.
The last time the two were in communication was during an awkward exchange at Christian McCaffrey’s wedding, an event Williams promised the star running back he wouldn’t miss.
At that point in late June, Williams and the 49ers were at their furthest point in negotiations, Russini wrote. Williams was anxious and nervous knowing he would see his coach and general manager John Lynch at the reception.
There were hundreds of guests present, but the awkward clash could not be avoided.
Williams ran into Shanahan and the two hugged and exchanged some pleasantries. After the wedding, they reverted to their policy of silence, while Williams’ agent kept discussions with the team private and out of the media.
Nine weeks later, Shanahan picked up the phone and made the call.
Williams is now the highest-paid left tackle in football and got what he wanted: two years of guaranteed money worth up to $48 million.
