During Kyle Shanahan's two seasons as the Atlanta Falcons’ offensive coordinator, All-Pro receiver Julio Jones had two of the best seasons of his career.
In 2015, Jones led the NFL with 1,871 receiving yards. In 2016, he finished second with 1,409.
Can you imagine if Shanahan, now head coach of the 49ers, could get his hands on another game-changing receiver? Someone like, say, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Antonio Brown?
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Hall of Fame receiver Michael Irvin was asked about the possibility, and couldn't contain his excitement at the thought.
"Oh my god. That would be insane," Irvin told Damon Bruce on 95.7 The Game last week. "Put Antonio Brown with Jimmy [Garoppolo] and having Kyle Shanahan lining him up and giving him the ball? Remember, the best year Julio Jones had was with Kyle Shanahan running things. They just got rid of the guy down there because he didn’t know how to get Julio Jones the ball in the end zone. That’s not an issue Kyle Shanahan had with him, and that’s the issue that guy had."
"That guy" Irvin is referring to is recently fired offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian.
To set the record straight on Irvin's comment about Sarkisian and Jones, the dynamic receiver had just three touchdown receptions through 12 games this season. But over the final four games, Jones caught five TD passes. He also led the NFL in receiving yards with 1,677, the second-highest total of his career.
San Francisco 49ers
Brown's name has come up in trade rumors since the end of the regular season when he reportedly got into a heated exchange with a teammate, skipped practices leading up to the season finale and then didn’t play in the game. On Saturday, NFL Network reported the Steelers will start fielding offers for Brown. But the price reportedly will be steep, as Pittsburgh wants a first-round draft pick or "multiple high picks."
Irvin believes a change of scenery would be good for Brown.
"It would be incredible," Irvin said. "Now, certainly for Antonio Brown, that whole situation, what a bad situation. But sometimes, when things get going bad like that, you need a fresh start, and that would be an incredible, incredible fresh start for him."
Will Irvin and 49ers fans have a chance to see just how insane Brown could be in Shanahan's offense? We'll see if 49ers general manager John Lynch is willing to pay the high price.