Videos are auto-populated by an affiliate. This site has no control over the videos that appear above.
The San Francisco 49ers are continuing a trend started during the 2022 season, as head coach Kyle Shanahan announced the team's six captains for the upcoming season: quarterback Brock Purdy, defensive tackle Arik Armstead, tight end George Kittle, wide receiver Deebo Samuel, linebacker Fred Warner, and offensive tackle Trent Williams.
The 49ers elected to have six captains instead of seven, leaving out candidates like star defensive tackle Nick Bosa and running back Christian McCaffrey, while electing to name second-year quarterback Brock Purdy as a captain for the upcoming year.
Did Shanahan have a tough decision when it came to naming his quarterback a captain, especially given that the 49ers didn't name Trey Lance one in 2022? Not really, but Shanahan did point out that it doesn't matter as much for a quarterback being a captain early in his career, although it's an additional benefit.
"[Being named a captain early in your career as a quarterback] really isn't [that important] to me. I thought about this when I became a head coach. I mean when you think really hard about the captains and stuff and it'd be cool if there was just one on each, which I kind of like and stuff, but then it becomes a little bit of a popularity contest with the players," Shanahan said. "I never want to have to get involved and tell them I disagree or anything. So I always just get their top guys. I have them all vote for four people. You get a first place, second place, third place and fourth place vote. I get the top eight and then you decide off of that and we went one through six and I think the most we've kept is seven before. But, there's a lot more than six guys on our team who could do it and so that's why it's kind of a thing I try not to make too big a deal about because you're going to offend someone on your team."
However, Shanahan believes Purdy has earned the moniker, given the way he carried himself through the 2022 season.
"Yeah, I do. I definitely do. It's when you go out and you play like he did last year, that's what it is. I mean, it's hard to be seen as a leader when you haven't been out there before," Shanahan said. "Guys can think you're a leader, you can act like a leader, but guys don't follow many people who don't produce on the field and I think that's why he got so many votes this year because I think they believed in him and felt he was one of the leaders last year. Not because he's being some vet and talking to guys a certain way, just because of how he prepares, that they can count on him and how he handled a number of situations when he got in there."
A new face in the group? Wide receiver Deebo Samuel, who showed some accountability earlier this offseason when pointing out that the 2022 season didn't go to his expectations, characterizing his year as "awful".
Head coach Kyle Shanahan was pleased to see that growth for Samuel, and believed his wideout earned a captain badge this season as well.
"I think it says a ton. I was happy for Deebo, he got that," Shanahan said. "I think he was disappointed he didn't last year. I know he was and for him to be one of those guys, especially how last year ended a little bit for him, I think it shows how dedicated he's been. You guys have seen it out on the field and you guys have written about and stuff and the players feel it strongly also."
The 49ers will carry forward with six captains for the second consecutive season after rolling with seven choices earlier in the Shanahan era. For 2023, it'll be Brock Purdy, Arik Armstead, George Kittle, Deebo Samuel, Fred Warner, and Trent Williams.
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy has showcased elite-level performances this season. Nevertheless, some seem reluctant to give the second-year player the respect that many 49ers fans believe he deserves.
NFL Network reporter Omar Ruiz joined KNBR on Monday morning and was asked if he senses a reluctance among the media to categorize Purdy among the upper echelon of NFL quarterbacks.
"Yeah, and I think as long as he has a loaded Forty-Niner team around him, it'll probably always be like that unless he wins a Super Bowl," Ruiz responded on the "Murph and Mac" show.
Ruiz drew parallels to former Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson's journey to being considered among the league's best. Initially, the team's outstanding defensive play
49ers Notebook: Deebo Samuel backs up the smack; Brock Purdy returns to scene of injury; Jauan Jennings beats his favorite team
By Kirk Larrabee
21 hrs
It's not often that a player can back up copious amounts of trash talk the way Deebo Samuel did against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, but that's exactly what happened during the critical beatdown the 49ers unleashed on the Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field.
Samuel was among multiple 49ers players who expressed confidence over the offseason that the result in last season's NFC Championship game, won 31-7 by the Eagles, would have been different had quarterback Brock Purdy not suffered a season-ending elbow injury during the contest. No one was more vocal on that front than Samuel, who said things like "We lost because we played with ten people" while adding that the
George Kittle says Brock Purdy lifts 49ers offense; Eager for Eagles game
By David Bonilla
Nov 28
Tight end George Kittle values the presence of Brock Purdy in the San Francisco 49ers' huddle. The quarterback has played efficiently, contributing to the team's three consecutive wins following a costly October slump.
Purdy is on track to become the first 49ers quarterback to surpass 4,000 passing yards since Jeff Garcia did so in 2000. In fact, his projected 4,437 yards would set a franchise record.
"I think I can speak for everybody on our offense, we're continually impressed with the things that Brock does all the time," Kittle told Jim Rome on Tuesday. "His consistency every single day, the relationship that he's built with all of our skilled players, all the guys that he gets the ball to, it's pretty amazing. And we all feel that [comfort] with
Brock Purdy favored for MVP, 49ers top Super Bowl favorites
By David Bonilla
8 hrs
The San Francisco 49ers have captured the attention of oddsmakers following their dominant performance against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday. The Bay Area team is now favored to win Super Bowl 58 in February. Additionally, quarterback Brock Purdy has emerged as the leading contender for the league MVP honors.
Below are the current Super Bowl odds from DraftKings.
San Francisco 49ers +310
Philadelphia Eagles +550
Miami Dolphins +700
Kansas City Chiefs +700
Dallas Cowboys +850
Baltimore Ravens +850
Below are the current MVP odds.
Brock Purdy, 49ers +300
Jalen Hurts, Eagles
