Late last season, after yet another injury-stricken game, Brock Purdy was spotted pacing the sideline with a tablet in hand—no headphones, no coaches around, just a quiet determination as he walked himself through the game plan. One beat writer noted that while others sulked, Purdy spent the next series improvising around a decimated line. It wasn’t flashy, but it was something else—calm in chaos. That’s the kind of year it was for the 49ers. Now, as the praise (and blame) gets handed out, the question looms—was this Purdy’s offense… or HC Kyle Shanahan’s?

Y’all remember the injury wave that tore through the 49ers roster last year. First it was RB Christian McCaffrey with calf and Achilles injuries that cost him 13 games. Then WR Brandon Aiyuk went down with a torn ACL and MCL in Week 7 against the Chiefs. And eventually, linebacker De’Vondre Campbell outright refused to play. It was a season of setbacks, yet head coach Kyle Shanahan stayed committed to QB Brock Purdy. While the team ultimately fell short, their offensive numbers still raised eyebrows.

The 49ers ranked 12th in total rushing yards with 2,163 (127.2 per game), 4th in passing yards with 6,397 (376.3 per game), and 14th in total points scored at 389 (22.9 per game)—even outpacing the Chiefs in scoring. NFL reporter Mina Kimes pointed out that San Francisco had the most injuries in the league, ranking last in Football Outsiders’ Adjusted Games Lost metric, as per FTN Fantasy. And still, their offense ranked in the top 10 in DVOA (Defense-adjusted Value Over Average).

However, 49ers insider David Lombardi offered a different perspective, arguing that the credit shouldn’t go entirely to Shanahan. In response to Kimes, he tweeted, “Shanahan is an excellent play caller, but this is also a Brock Purdy stat. He’s top-notch; maintained #7 QBR even while everything about the 49ers crumbled around him.”

In 2024, Purdy started all 15 games he played, completing 300 of 455 passes for a 65.9% completion rate. He threw for 3,864 yards, 20 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. On the ground, he contributed 66 carries for 323 rushing yards and five touchdowns. According to ESPN, his Total QBR was 67.9—ranked 7th in the NFL, ahead of Patrick Mahomes (8th, 67.6) and Super Bowl champion Jalen Hurts (10th, 65.6). He did all this despite being sacked a career-high 31 times.

These performances led the 49ers front office to commit long-term. Purdy inked a 5-year, $265 million deal, with an average annual value of $53 million. Expectations? Sky-high. Especially after recent trades.

Fans want result from Kyle Shanahan and Brock Purdy

To clear cap space and reset the roster, the Niners moved key pieces. WR Deebo Samuel was traded to the Commanders. RB Jordan Mason joined the Vikings. The core is changing, but the investment in the QB-HC duo is only growing.

On the May 16 episode of The Herd with Colin Cowherd, guest John Middlekauff addressed this pressure directly: “If I’m paying my head coach and my quarterback close to $70 million a year at minimum, I don’t care who else is on the team—because this roster is not as good as it was a couple of years ago. I need double-digit wins.”

Under Shanahan’s tenure, the 49ers have posted four seasons with double-digit wins in eight years. They made the playoffs in all of those. But the narrative is shifting—this season, with fewer weapons and higher stakes, the scrutiny intensifies.

Brock Purdy may be the calm in the storm, but he’ll need more than composure. The 49ers brass—and the fanbase—will expect results that match the paycheck. For Kyle Shanahan, too, the margin for error has narrowed. After years of praise for his system, even beat reporters are beginning to ask: is it still about the scheme… or about the player running it?