Shanahan Clarifies Viral Sideline Exchange With 49ers QB Purdy

San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan has addressed a viral sideline exchange with quarterback Brock Purdy during the team's recent victory over the Washington Commanders. Shanahan stated that Purdy's shout was not an expression of frustration with strategy but rather a result of communication difficulties.

During the "Monday Night Football" game, Purdy was seen yelling "Hey, Kyle!" toward the sideline, with a clip of the interaction quickly spreading on social media. The initial assumption was that Purdy was unhappy with a play call or its timing. However, Shanahan clarified the situation ahead of the 49ers' Week 7 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons.

"Yeah, it’s actually not to call a play faster," Shanahan explained. "It’s, ‘I need it again,’ and it gets cutoff at 15 [seconds]."

Communication issues within a quarterback's helmet, which prevent play calls from being heard clearly or on time, can occur. Shanahan elaborated that play calls are sometimes not received by the quarterback, and other players may alert him to Purdy's attempts to get the play call again. "Sometimes no one can hear it," Shanahan said. "… I always call a play and I just walk, and think. I don’t always watch the huddle. A lot of times. Mac [Jones] or someone will say, ‘We didn’t get it, it was chopped’ or somebody yells, ‘Brock’s yelling at you,’ which I can’t always hear. But I did hear him a couple times in this game, and I look up and try to do it again as long as it’s not past 15 seconds."

The San Francisco 49ers currently hold a perfect 6-0 record to begin the 2026 season. Purdy has been a key contributor to their success, demonstrating strong performance through the first six weeks. He leads the league in quarterback rating (118.1) among quarterbacks who have played all six games, with 1,460 passing yards, a 69.6% completion rate, 14 touchdowns, and only two interceptions.