NFC Notes: 49ers, Bears, Seahawks

49ers

49ers HC Kyle Shanahan spoke out about the lack of diversity among NFL coaches and general managers in a conference call with the media on Thursday.

“I can only speak for myself, and I try to hire people that I work with that are prepared for [the job],” Shanahan said, via Scott Bair. “Fortunately, that has worked out well for me. We have a Muslim coordinator. We have a black coordinator. We have a lesbian on our staff. … It’s not to show people that we’re trying to be diverse. It’s because I have been around these people and they are really good at what they do. We can’t win without these people. That’s just how it works out.”

Shanahan also said that he believes QB Jimmy Garoppolo can be one of the all-time great quarterbacks in the league.

“When you have to talk to Jimmy about one of the best quarterbacks of all time being available, I know Jimmy has a goal to be that,” Shanahan said, via Matt Maiocco. “I know Jimmy. I believe Jimmy has the ability to be that and that’s what both of us are going for. If we can get him there and he has the ability to do it, we’re going to be pretty happy with who we have for a long time.”

• According to NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport, the 49ers will be the only team not able to have coaches return to the team facility this week due to local regulations. Still, San Francisco has no objection to the NFL allowing other teams to bring back coaches. 
• 49ers HC Kyle Shanahan said if players were allowed back, it would be different, but since they’re not he doesn’t see it as a competitive disadvantage. (Nick Wagoner)

Bears

After positive talks with team officials earlier this offseason, former Bears TE Trey Burton said it was a “high surprise” when Chicago elected to cut him in mid-April. More than anything, health is what derailed Burton’s tenure with the Bears. He started out strong in an offense that similarly highly prioritizes the tight end position, playing 16 games in 2018 and finishing with 54 catches for 569 yards and six touchdowns. But he says an offseason injury was misdiagnosed and he rushed back to the field. He was never healthy in 2019, playing eight games and catching just 14 passes. 

“When I say a struggle, that is a light term for it,” Burton said via 1075TheFan.com’s Kevin Bowen. “It was rough. I didn’t know if I was going to be able to play coming up to almost every Sunday. Fortunately, I was able (to play) in a couple of them, but I wasn’t able to play at the level I would’ve liked to. I went on IR after I had suffered another little strain from a lot of things that were going on. We decided that it was time for me to get the surgery that I probably should’ve gotten to start out with, which was in December.”

Seahawks

Seahawks veteran LB K.J. Wright said in an interview with Sports Radio 950 KJR that he is ahead of schedule in his recovery from offseason shoulder surgery.

“Health is good. I’m ahead of schedule of where I need to be and if there’s a football season I plan on being out there game one,” Wright said, via Pro Football Talk.