San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan did not mince words after his team’s 42-38 win over the Chicago Bears on Sunday, December 28.
Asked about quarterback Brock Purdy, Shanahan pointed directly to his ability to create outside the original play design as a defining reason the 49ers remain firmly in the hunt for the NFC’s top seed.
San Francisco survived a chaotic afternoon that included an opening-play pick-six and long stretches without key starters.
Purdy responded with one of the most complete performances of his season, finishing 24 of 33 for 305 yards, five total touchdowns, and a 118.6 passer rating.
Three scores came through the air, while two more were produced with his legs, underscoring how often his mobility bailed out an injury-thinned offense.
Shanahan emphasized that those unscripted moments have become essential rather than optional.
“It’s huge,” Shanahan said. “Brock moved the chains with his legs a few times and then he bought time a number of times to get some big plays down the field. One was the touchdown to Juice. Having a quarterback who can do things off-schedule is a huge part of our success.”
Kyle Shanahan was asked to describe Brock Purdy’s scrambling ability:
— Coach Yac 🗣 (@Coach_Yac) December 29, 2025
“It’s huge. Brock moved the chains with his legs a few times and then he bought time a number of times to get some big plays down the field. One was the touchdown to Juice. Having a quarterback who can do… pic.twitter.com/jMPvixGmlB
That improvisation proved decisive as San Francisco played nearly the entire game without left tackle Trent Williams and again without tight end George Kittle. Instead of shrinking after early mistakes, Purdy steadied the offense and kept the 49ers ahead just long enough to secure the win.
Brock Purdy’s off-script impact reshapes San Francisco’s margin for error
The Bears are not an elite defensive group, and neither are the Indianapolis Colts, whom the 49ers faced the previous week. That context matters, but it does not diminish the scope of what Purdy was asked to manage.
San Francisco’s defense, battered by injuries, could not consistently slow Chicago, turning the game into a possession-by-possession test where efficiency mattered more than dominance.
Purdy delivered despite those conditions. After an interception returned for a touchdown and another pick wiped away by penalty, he regrouped and controlled the remainder of the game.
His most memorable moment came on an extended scramble that ended with a touchdown throw to fullback Kyle Juszczyk, a play Shanahan initially hoped would simply end with a throwaway.
“He made me extremely nervous, and then he made me extremely happy,” Shanahan said, recalling that sequence.
Questions about his contract value have followed him all season. Performances like Sunday’s offer a clear rebuttal. With the postseason approaching, the 49ers may not know how far they will go, but their quarterback’s ability to adapt has become the constant holding everything together.