SANTA CLARA, Calif. — The San Francisco 49ers are 4-0 since Brock Purdy returned from that nagging toe injury, and the faith in the quarterback among his teammates has never been higher. Take his 26-yard run in the third quarter of the 37-24 win over the Tennessee Titans on Sunday.
“He’s Jesus Christ Lizard running on water,” tight end George Kittle said. “Just no ball security, fake pitching at the end… Absolutely just diabolical behavior by QB1. But I love it.”
Purdy rolled right and then came back across to the left side, faking a downfield throw before hitting the gas. He scooted down the sideline before a sudden basketball-type ball fake right — a move he hated the second he did it — and then stepped out of bounds. He immediately apologized to Titans linebacker Cody Barton.
“I thought it was dumb,” Purdy said. “I was like, ‘Bro, what did I just do?’”
“I’m sorry.” – Brock Purdy 😅 pic.twitter.com/fccz1Jbt3j
— NFL (@NFL) December 14, 2025
He was living in the moment and having fun, just like he was on the jump-pass touchdown to Kittle 12 plays later on the drive. It was his third touchdown pass of the day (along with 295 yards going 23-for-30) and he did a mini-Dougie dance on the sideline for teammates.
And why not? The 49ers are 10-4 in a season marred with injuries. (At one point in the second half, the Rams and Seahawks were both trailing in their games and it seemed as if the 49ers might jump from third to first in the ridiculous NFC West.)
“We love having Brock as our QB and our leader,” right tackle Colton McKivitz said. “If he’s having fun, it means the offense is having fun and the team is having fun. Keep Dougie-ing and keep it rolling.”
The 49ers’ defense didn’t do much — the Titans’ Cam Ward had six seconds in the pocket at one point and found defensive tackle Jeffrey Simmons for a touchdown — but it didn’t have to. Purdy and the offense scored the first five times it touched the ball.
“Brock was in total command, breaking out some signature Brock Purdy moves out there,” fullback Kyle Juszczyk said, smiling. “It was nice to see him use his legs today.”
Purdy finished with 44 yards rushing and routinely bought time when the pocket collapsed, stepped out and made big throws. And he’s been pretty consistent with his celebrations as well.
“He did the Dougie (the first time) because he promised the guys that if he scored, he would do the Dougie, and he’s not a liar,” coach Kyle Shanahan said. “The first time Brock scored in our stadium, his first preseason game… we were playing, I think, the Packers, he did the discount double check, and we had no idea he had a personality like that.
“So, I think he does do stuff on the field a lot, just he does it subtly. We love Brock.”
“We love Brock.” 🫶 pic.twitter.com/rvJuKUOKm0
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) December 15, 2025
Even the occasional jump pass…
“We give him crap for it a lot, but when it works, we call him Michael Jordan,” Shanahan said, smiling.
The coach prefers “cleats in the ground and being able to drive the ball,” but sometimes you have to reach in the bag.
“Sometimes somebody’s got to use another club, and it’s cool that he’s got that one,” Shanahan said.
Shanahan especially loves how Purdy kept the offense on schedule Sunday, as well as the entire team this past week in practice. Team leaders preached before and practice each day not to take the Titans lightly, especially with the 49ers coming off a bye week.
“We talked about not taking our foot off the gas pedal at any moment throughout a game,” Purdy said. “We gotta play every four quarters of every game like it’s a playoff game… be aggressive and go get it. And I feel like today we showed that.”
The 49ers have three games left, all against teams with winning records after what’s been (cough) a little bit of a soft schedule. It’s why Kittle wasn’t going to break into a dance of his own after the 49ers scored 37 points against the 2-12 Titans.
“We can always be better,” Kittle said. “Nothing against the Titans, but you know, they’re not a playoff team, and we have a lot of really tough games in the Colts, a Bears team that’s on a roll and Seattle… Our offense has to execute and score points. And, you know, we did that today for sure but we’re gonna be going against better defenses.
“And again, nothing against the Titans. It’s just when you’re playing for the playoffs, there’s just a little bit more energy out of you.”
Purdy connected with Kittle eight times on nine targets and with receiver Ricky Pearsall six times on seven targets in what was the first game after receiver Brandon Aiyuk was placed on the reserve/left squad list. Shanahan said Sunday that he hadn’t seen Aiyuk, who walked away from a lot of money, at the facility in a month.
Purdy made some big throws to Aiyuk in his short career, but he has also built chemistry with Jauan Jennings. Jennings only had three catches against the Titans, but two of them were for touchdowns in tight windows. Which, Purdy said, don’t seem small with the 6-foot-3 receiver.
“When it’s a moving route and there’s a guy on him, with his frame, he does a great job of just attacking and and getting an edge and and just a little space with his length,” Purdy said. “I’ve learned over the years that I can give him a shot. He’s always aggressive and comes down with it.”
Jennings has been getting healthier after a rough start to the season, and nothing puts a smile on his face like Purdy running.
“It’s cool,” he said. “I love seeing Brock run. He gets kind of low and weaves through.”
As far as the ball fake and the Dougie dances, Jennings said there’s been no increase in the quarterback’s swagger.
“It’s the same Brock,” he said. “He’s just being himself, carrying the team each and every week.”