Niners Bulletin: Kyle Shanahan’s most impressive masterpiece lives on for another week

The difference between the 49ers and the Eagles on Sunday afternoon in Philadelphia was never more evident than on the first play of the fourth quarter. San Francisco was led by an offensive mastermind in Kyle Shanahan, and Philadelphia was not. One team had a coaching staff and a quarterback able to overcome an absurd buffet of adversity to win a road playoff game, and the other did not. The Niners outclassed the Eagles in many phases on Sunday in a 23-19 upset win over the defending champs. The only place Philly was better? On paper. 

What would become the game’s signature highlight reel had an inconspicuous beginning. Trailing 16-10, the 49ers lined up on the right hash and set up a typical first down formation. Brock Purdy took the snap and gave the ball to Skyy Moore, who sprinted left and tossed to Jauan Jennings as the two crossed paths deep in the backfield. Jennings drifted right, outside the numbers, and lofted a deep pass down the field as he was leveled by Eagles’ defensive lineman Jalen Carter. 

Christian McCaffrey was wide open near the goal line, but Jennings’ throw was a tad long. McCaffrey contorted his body and made a Willie Mays-esque over the shoulder catch as he twisted to the ground and crossed the goal line to give the Niners the lead. The play of the season flipped the script, and the genius behind it is why San Francisco is still alive. 

The job Kyle Shanahan has done with the 2025 49ers is the Magnum Opus of an already excellent tenure that has featured many stellar performances. San Francisco has spent the entire season short at key positions, has now lost MULTIPLE HALL OF FAMERS in the same season, and yet on Saturday will play for a chance to go back to the NFC Championship Game for the fifth time in seven seasons. Yes, it’s a Shakespearean tragedy that Shanahan and the Niners haven’t yet hoisted a Lombardi with this coaching staff and core, and it’s definitely fair to question his situational decision making in some of those excruciating losses, but to blanket his reputation without enjoying the fruits of efforts like this one would be an even more tragic practice. 

As the coach himself remarked in a jubilant locker room following the win, the 49ers are winning with players who weren’t on the roster a month ago. And those players aren’t just filling out the 53, they’re starting in key positions. San Francisco has won seven of its last eight games with a patchwork quilt of rookies and league rejects. Shanahan and defensive coordinator Robert Saleh, whose job shouldn’t be as overlooked as it’s been for the last five paragraphs, have been sensational in putting lipstick on a largely inexperienced and often downright rejected pig. He probably won’t win coach of the year after failing to lock up what would have been the most improbable division title and No. 1 seed of the modern era, but he likely won’t get as close to the distinction as he should either.

As has been the case for the entirety of this fever dream of a 2025 march to the postseason, the spectacular win couldn’t be entirely enjoyed. George Kittle tore his achilles in the second quarter, carted to the locker room as a devastated but weathered group of Niners attempted to regroup without the beating heart of their team. They did, somewhat miraculously, but less so when you consider the aforementioned mind of Kyle Shanahan. Losing Kittle is an immense practical loss on the field, but the Niners can still count on his leadership and character this week and potentially beyond. 

Christian McCaffrey and Kyle Juszczyk highlighted the juxtaposition of losing Kittle in the middle of battle, but fighting on with his presence in the locker room and his spirit remaining unbroken. McCaffrey said it best: When you lose a leader like Kittle, you never really lose him.”

With every wretched turn of injury luck the 49ers have endured this year, what else can you do but laugh. Kittle, a self proclaimed goofball, was able to joke with Juszczyk in the locker room when the team trudged in at halftime. “I’m not dead yet,” the veteran TE cracked.

Brock Purdy threw two touchdowns on Sunday, but Jauan Jennings’ immaculate toss to CMC will be the lasting image from the win. Purdy wasn’t completely uninvolved in the trick play, but by his own admission, he could have been more involved for Jennings’ sake. Luckily, Jauan popped right up. But Purdy might owe his now last remaining most reliable target dinner.

Check out the rest of our postgame coverage from Philadelphia below, and as always on thesportsleader.com. Don’t miss a second of your favorite shows all day long by listening live, or finding every moment from The Sports Leader on our site and anywhere you get your podcasts.