Dre Greenlaw wasn't only member of the 49ers to suffer freak Achilles tear in Super Bowl 58
Super Bowl 58 turned largely on a freak injury to San Francisco 49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw, who tore his Achilles getting ready to run onto the field following a punt in the second quarter. With Greenlaw lost for the game, the 49ers' defense lost much of the intensity that was causing the Kansas City Chiefs […]
Super Bowl 58 turned largely on a freak injury to San Francisco 49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw, who tore his Achilles getting ready to run onto the field following a punt in the second quarter.
With Greenlaw lost for the game, the 49ers' defense lost much of the intensity that was causing the Kansas City Chiefs significant problems in the early stages. Kansas City picked on Greenlaw's replacement, Oren Burks, in the passing game with great success thereafter.
But Greenlaw wasn't the only member of the 49ers to sustain that injury in bizarre circumstances, with Kyle Shanahan revealing a member of the coaching staff also suffered the same fate after halftime.
Defensive backs coach Daniel Bullocks is recovering from an Achilles tear, with Shanahan explaining how his injury happened while speaking to reporters at the annual league meetings.
"I think it was when Ji’Ayir [Brown] got his interception [on the first series of the second half],” Shanahan said. "He just jumped up and cheered, very similar to Dre’s, and his Achilles went, too.
Shanahan did not learn of Bullocks' injury until the day after the 49ers' gut-wrenching 25-22 overtime loss to the Chiefs, leading to a disagreement with his wife.
"I didn't know until the next morning, to tell you the truth," Shanahan added.
"I just thought he hurt his ankle but by the time the game was over, he could barely walk.
"It was funny. The next morning, I woke up early and my wife told me Bullocks tore his Achilles, and I said, ‘No, it was Greenlaw.’ And I got into the biggest argument with her. And Bullocks got on the bus in a boot and, she’s like, ‘Told ya.’"
For a player and coach to suffer the same injury in remarkably similar fashion is an incredible illustration of San Francisco's bad luck on the biggest stage. In a playoff campaign in which the 49ers pulled off two comebacks to reach the Super Bowl, the luck seemed to be with Shanahan's team. However, with the Lombardi Trophy on the line, it's clear the football gods were firmly against the Niners.
