JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The band wasn’t on the field, but it looked like it was for a few seconds Sunday.
Cornerback Ambry Thomas had one of the 49ers’ best plays of the game in the team’s 34-3 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars, but he could have been a little more patient on the sideline. The match could have been even better.
Thomas stole the ball from wide receiver Christian Kirk, picked it up and began running toward the end zone.
That’s when several coaches and players from the 49ers’ sideline spilled onto the field, and mass chaos began.
“Was I one of them?” quipped 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan. “Yeah.”
On his way to what would have been a 92-yard return for a touchdown, Thomas had to overcome scorers and Jaguars players trying to take him down.
Shanahan was one of the people on the 49ers’ sideline who was on the field during Thomas’ fumble return.
Officials met after Thomas crossed the goal line and determined the 49ers had engaged in unsportsmanlike conduct. The touchdown was forfeited and the 49ers were assessed a 15-yard penalty.
Shanahan said there is no one to blame but himself.
“Whoever did it would have been angry,” Shanahan said. “I was mad at myself. I thought the play was over. I went blind and everyone jumped up.
“So when something like that happens, we go out to bless the people who are coming back, and instead of coming back to bless us, they turn to us. They run away.”
This bizarre play will likely continue with the 49ers as a case study and a reminder to be more cautious before entering the field of play.
“We definitely know the rules,” Shanahan said. “We know you can’t get on the field. Personally I thought the play was over. They ran right past us.
“It was very disappointing because it was a good learning experience for the team. That’s what we’re showing.”
In the end, the penalty did not cost the 49ers any points.
The 49ers put together a seven-play, 81-yard drive with Deebo Samuel’s 23-yard touchdown run to take a 27-3 lead late in the third quarter.
“We can live with this situation, but this is a good learning example for us,” Shanahan said.
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