Shanahan explains 49ers' Foerster hire

It was reported Friday that the San Francisco 49ers hired former Miami Dolphins offensive line coach Chris Foerster, who resigned after a viral video emerged of him snorting a white powder in 2017, this offseason.

Niners head coach Kyle Shanahan spoke with Jennifer Lee Chan of NBC Sports Bay Area about Foerster - who's been with the team since 2018 as a consultant - and his role with the club.

"We found out about (the video) when the whole world found out about it. When it happened, we were as shocked as anyone, from my wife to anybody," Shanahan said. "It's nothing I'd want to stick up for. These are extremely bad things that I know he's not proud of, and I'm not proud of."

Shanahan said Foerster - who worked with the Niners bench boss from 2010-13 with the Washington Redskins - hit rock bottom, entered rehab, and has been in a 12-step program that he attends every day of the week. He also explained that the 49ers hired Foerster as a means of offering him a second chance.

"We're trying to ease him back in. I understand how big of a problem he did have. I also understand that he's doing in committing to fix that problem. We're trying to give him a chance to get back on track," Shanahan said. "I also understand that people make huge mistakes, and ... he's trying to make amends and he's trying to make it right."

The team didn't go public with the hire because Foerster isn't on the coaching staff and doesn't attend games or practices. He filed advanced scouting reports remotely last season. This year, he has a part-time role that includes attending team and position group meetings.

"He's done that exactly the right way for two years," Shanahan said. "We will see if he continues to do that, and then we will reassess that after this year. If it continues to go well, I think he has a chance to get his life back on track. And that's really all we are trying to do."