Kyle Shanahan, in his introductory news conference with the Cleveland Browns on Thursday, discussed coaching beyond his father's shadow.
"I'm looking forward to it," Shanahan said, per The Washington Post. "I think it's gonna be nice when I hear the head coach's last name and 'S' isn't always tagged to the end of it -- the Shanahans. So I'm looking forward to that part. But I've worked a lot of years in the NFL. I started out my career away from my dad. That was always a goal of mine, to prove myself before I ever coached with my dad."
Shanahan then harkened back to his days as the Houston Texans offensive coordinator, before joining his father, Mike, with the Washington Redskins.
"I thought that I had proved myself," Shanahan said. "And it was something I always wanted to do in my life -- I wanted to coach with my dad at one time. I enjoyed it. We went through some ups and downs, but it's something I wouldn't take back for anything. Excited to move on and be done with that part of my life, but I think it made me better, and it's something I'm glad that I did."
The biggest down on that father-son coaster ride came this past season with the reported spat between the Shanahans and Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III. Kyle Shanahan said Thursday that he always had a great relationship with RGIII and pointed out how working with the elusive quarterback helped him grow as a play caller.
"... A thing that I always did with (RGIII) -- and that we did with each other -- is when stuff would come out, we'd address it," Shanahan said. "You know, we'd get into our room, we'd talk about it and make sure we felt good about it. And I think Robert and I, through a very tough time, we managed to keep our relationship through the year. I'm not gonna say it was easy. Nothing's easy when you go through something like that. But I do believe going through it, Robert and I, in the long run, it'll make both of us better."
*The "Around The League Podcast" recapped Super Bowl XLVIII live from MetLife Stadium right after the game. *
