Does Kyle Shanahan wish 49ers signed Tom Brady in 2020?

Head coach Kyle Shanahan has suggested the San Francisco 49ers should've signed Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady in March 2020. 

"But now like when you watch him that first week in Tampa, you’re like, what the hell was anyone ever thinking? The dude looks the exact same he did that year [in 2020]," Shanahan said this week when asked about Brady possibly declining following the 2019 season, per Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. "He does when he comes off injuries and I think he’s playing as good now and throwing the ball as well now as I’ve seen anybody ever do it." 

Shanahan further praised the seven-time Super Bowl champion he referred to as the "G.O.A.T." and "still the best to play" the sport's most important position. 

Back in April 2020, Shanahan told The Athletic's Tim Kawakami that he and general manager John Lynch briefly considered signing Brady that offseason after the all-time great left the New England Patriots. They ultimately passed, in part because they were "so happy with our team and happy with" then-starter Jimmy Garoppolo. 

Brady went on to guide the Buccaneers to a Super Bowl LV win over the Kansas City Chiefs in February 2021 and then helped Tampa Bay reach the playoffs last January as a Most Valuable Player candidate. 

It was reported this past September that Shanahan wanted Brady on the 49ers after the 2019 campaign but "was eventually talked out of it by others in the building." Shanahan and company spent a first-round pick on Trey Lance in the 2021 NFL Draft but now have rookie Brock Purdy on track to start when the 8-4 49ers host Brady and the 6-6 Buccaneers this coming Sunday. 

Lance suffered a season-ending ankle injury back in Week 2, while Garoppolo is out until further notice with a broken foot. Purdy, the last selection of this year's draft, completed 25-of-37 passes for 210 yards with two touchdowns and an interception after he replaced the injured Garoppolo in last Sunday's win over the Miami Dolphins and is set to make his first NFL start against someone who has "been playing football longer than I’ve been alive."