Kyle Shanahan Actually Admitted He Watches Patriots Film Almost Every Week

The San Francisco 49ers have gotten off to an incredible start this season. As one of only six remaining 3-0 teams in the league, the Niners are looking like a legitimate force to be reckoned with this season.

And now, we might know just how exactly head coach Kyle Shanahan has snapped his players into shape.

During an interview, Shanahan stated that he actively watches Patriots game day film during the week.

Now, there are a lot of obvious and logical reasons as to why he might choose to do this. Firstly, Bill Belichick is perhaps the greatest NFL coach to have ever lived. Coaching in the same generation as him is a fantastic opportunity for Shanahan to analyze how he manages to keep the Patriots competitive on a yearly basis.

Secondly, Shanahan's current quarterback is none other than Jimmy Garoppolo, who was supposed to be Tom Brady's successor. Watching game film on Brady and the Pats can perhaps inspire Shanahan to get the most out of Garoppolo, who's had a decent start to the season.

Many coaches probably watch Patriots tape to a limited extent during the year, whether they're facing them or not. But to openly admit to watching Pats film on a weekly basis? Now that's the ultimate sign of respect towards a head coach like Belichick.

Hey, at least it's better than trying to secretly record another team's practices.