The organization will try that the family of the players and the rest of the personnel, is in the area for the celebrations
SANTA CLARA, Calif. – After moving his entire football operation to Arizona for what they initially expected it to be just a three-week stay, the San Francisco 49ers they will end the 2020 regular season in the desert.
A team spokesman said the decision was made to remain in the Phoenix area until the end of the NFL season. after Santa Clara County announced it would extend its COVID-19 restrictions, Including a ban on contact sports, until at least January 8.
The 49ers, who had already planned to stay until the December 26 game against the Arizona Cardinals, Will also receive the Seattle Seahawks in Glendale, Arizona, Jan. 3.
By the end of the season, the Niners will have played three “home” games and one away game at State Farm Stadium during the final month of the season.
The extension of Santa Clara County protocols was something the Niners expected when they moved, so coach Kyle Shanahan told his team that he and the operations staff would do their best to try to bring the loved ones of the players to Arizona for Christmas week.
“The day they forced us to leave, we assumed this would happen,” Shanahan said. “That’s why we made the decision early. We weren’t going to wait for something we knew was inevitable, so we’ve been planning to get our families here.”
This process is already underway. Shanahan said Friday that his family will head to the Phoenix area on Saturday and that they will have COVID-19 tests that, if negative, will allow them to see them as soon as the Niners return from the game as visitors on Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys.
“I know not everyone can do it, but whoever can, we will take the family,” Shanahan noted.
The 49ers moved to Arizona on Dec. 2 after the initial announcement of improved Santa Clara County guidelines on Nov. 28. Since then, they have lost games “at home” in front Buffalo Bills and Washington to fall to 5-8 and have seen their postseason hopes dwindle.