Packers' Matt LaFleur not mad at 49ers' Kyle Shanahan over interest in Aaron Rodgers

Back before Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers returned to the team ahead of the preseason and started lashing out at those who criticized how he handled his offseason, he reportedly made it known he wanted to be traded and didn't wish to play another down for the organization. 

San Francisco 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan admitted this past spring he called Green Bay's Matt LaFleur, his former protege, to ask about Rodgers' availability. Those teams will meet this Sunday night in San Francisco, and LaFleur said Wednesday there's no bad blood between the two. 

"Kyle’s a great friend of mine. ... I haven’t talked to him in a while, [but] it’s just part of the business [and] you start kind of getting into your own routine," LaFleur explained, per Rob Demovsky of ESPN. "But yeah, absolutely, I hold no ill will toward him."

The Packers head coach continued: 

"It is what it is. Like, I understand. He’s trying to do whatever he thinks he needs to do for his football team. He’s got a responsibility to everybody in that organization, and if there’s an opportunity, I don’t hold that against him. So that will have no effect on our relationship."

Shanahan and company ultimately used the third pick of the 2021 NFL Draft on North Dakota State Bison quarterback Trey Lance and are hoping Lance becomes his generation's Rodgers.