Kyle Shanahan joined Greg Papa on “49ers Game Plan” to discuss San Francisco’s upcoming Monday night showdown against the Detroit Lions.
Cornerback Amik Robertson’s offseason decision to sign with Detroit instead of San Francisco has proven beneficial.
Before the Lions’ prime-time clash with the 49ers at Levi’s Stadium, the 26-year-old revealed to the Detroit Free Press that he turned down a more lucrative contract from San Francisco during free agency to join Detroit.
“Robertson, whose interest in the Lions grew from his friendship with cornerback Kindle Vildor, explained that the Lions contacted him on the first day of free agency,” Dave Birkett wrote in the Free Press.
“When no immediate agreement was reached, he entertained other offers — including a potentially better deal from the 49ers.
However, Robertson told his agent he wasn’t ready to commit to the 49ers on the first night. He preferred Detroit and finalized a two-year, $9.25 million deal with the Lions the next morning.”
This season, Robertson’s decision is paying off. Detroit holds a 13-2 record heading into their critical matchup against San Francisco. The Lions are in contention for the NFC’s top seed and need a win to keep pace with the 14-2 Minnesota Vikings in the NFC North.
If Detroit doesn’t clinch the division, they’ll drop to the No. 5 seed and face a road playoff game in the first round.
Beyond playoff positioning, the Lions are eager for revenge after last season’s NFC Championship Game loss to the 49ers.
In that game, 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy rallied his team from a double-digit deficit to secure a victory and the conference title.
Detroit is one of four NFL teams yet to reach a Super Bowl. Their last championship win dates back to 1957.
Robertson’s decision underscores his belief in Detroit’s future and his personal connections, showing that sometimes loyalty outweighs bigger paychecks.