Kyle Shanahan had a lot to say to his quarterback, Brock Purdy, following the San Francisco 49ers’ tough 28-18 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday afternoon. The defeat dropped the 49ers to 3-4 on the season, while the undefeated Chiefs improved to 6-0. Purdy, who has struggled with inconsistency this season, had a particularly rough game, throwing for 212 yards but also tossing three critical interceptions.
The 49ers have been hit hard by injuries on offense, which has undoubtedly contributed to Purdy’s difficulties, but some of his issues have also stemmed from poor decision-making. With the team slipping in the standings and their hopes of playoff contention growing dimmer, Shanahan felt it was time to address his young quarterback directly after the game.
According to reports, the 49ers head coach spent five minutes “lecturing” Purdy at his locker after the loss. “Kyle Shanahan just lectured Brock Purdy for five minutes at his locker. Purdy listened and said nothing. Never seen anything like it,” journalist Grant Cohn reported.
While it’s unclear exactly what Shanahan said during the conversation, it was evident that Purdy took the message to heart. After the game, the quarterback acknowledged his struggles and vowed to improve. “I gotta play better for sure, just with my throws, some decisions, and that’s pretty simple,” Purdy said during his postgame remarks.
Despite Purdy’s accountability, the scene of an NFL head coach “lecturing” his quarterback for several minutes at his locker is unusual.
Shanahan is known for his fiery passion and direct communication style, but moments like these typically happen behind closed doors or during team meetings, not in front of the media.
However, without full context, it’s possible that Shanahan’s conversation with Purdy was as much about encouragement and guidance as it was about criticism.
Regardless of the content of the exchange, it’s clear that the 49ers need Purdy to elevate his game if they hope to turn their season around. After a promising start to the year, San Francisco now finds itself barely clinging to playoff hopes.
Injuries aside, Purdy’s inconsistency has been a key factor in their recent slide, and the team is counting on him to rebound quickly.
The 49ers face another tough test on Sunday, October 27, when they host the Dallas Cowboys in a primetime matchup.
With San Francisco’s season potentially on the line, all eyes will be on Purdy to see if he can bounce back from this latest setback and help the 49ers get their season back on track. Kickoff is scheduled for 8:20 p.m. E.T.
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