Colin Cowherd Criticizes 49ers Head Coach Kyle Shanahan’s Decision to Start Recently Injured Purdy Over In-Form QB
Colin Cowherd Criticizes 49ers Head Coach Kyle Shanahan’s Decision to Start Recently Injured Purdy Over In-Form QB
San Francisco, September 29, 2025
The San Francisco 49ers just suffered a bitter defeat against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 4 of the NFL 2025 season, and immediately, renowned commentator Colin Cowherd voiced strong criticism of head coach Kyle Shanahan. The focus of his critique was not on tactics or the defense, but on a critical decision: starting Brock Purdy, who had just returned from injury, over continuing to trust Mac Jones – who led the 49ers to a victory against the Saints the previous week.
Cowherd argued that sidelining a quarterback in top form to place faith in a player not fully recovered was “an obvious mistake.” On his show, he bluntly stated: “Shanahan put the team in a tough spot. When you have a quarterback playing steadily and just delivering a win, you can’t simply push him aside because of a label or a depth chart. Mac Jones proved he can effectively run Shanahan’s system. The question is: why change now?”
This isn’t the first time Cowherd has targeted Purdy and Shanahan. Previously, he frequently called Purdy a “trust fund kid” – implying that his success primarily stems from Shanahan’s superior offensive system rather than individual talent. The loss to the Jaguars only reinforced his view that any quarterback could “shine in the right situation.”
According to Cowherd, Shanahan let the “default QB1” factor obscure the reality on the field. “Purdy’s success is circumstantial, not intrinsic. If Jones is on a hot streak, let him keep going. This change disrupted the offensive rhythm and cost the 49ers,” he emphasized.
With this loss, the 49ers drop to 3-1, sparking new debates about how Shanahan manages the quarterback position. Although Purdy is still seen as the long-term top choice, pressure from public opinion – especially from sharp critics like Cowherd – will undoubtedly force the 49ers’ head coach to think twice before each decision.
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