The San Francisco 49ers are red-hot to start the 2026 season, owning a perfect 6-0 record after a “Monday Night Football” victory over the Washington Commanders.
But tensions can run high even when things are going well. Just ask head coach Kyle Shanahan and quarterback Brock Purdy after the latter screamed toward his leader on the sideline in a now-viral exchange in Week 6.
This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX News may be compensated. This content was created by a team that works independently from the FOX newsroom.
Purdy was heard shouting, “Hey, Kyle!” with clear frustration, and the clip quickly found its way around social media. It appeared that Purdy wasn’t happy that Shanahan didn’t have the play-call in his ear in time.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE OUTKICK SPORTS COVERAGE
San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan talks with Brock Purdy during the first quarter of the 49ers’ 30-13 win over the New England Patriots at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024. (San Francisco Chronicle)
Ahead of the 49ers’ matchup with the Atlanta Falcons this week, Shanahan told a different story on the exchange.
“Yeah, it’s actually not to call a play faster,” Shanahan replied when asked about it by a reporter. “It’s, ‘I need it again,’ and it gets cutoff at 15 [seconds].”
‘WHAT THE F–K, CALL IT!’: AARON RODGERS AND MIKE MCCARTHY CURSE AT EACH OTHER DURING HOT MIC MOMENT
Communications within a quarterback’s helmet can sometimes cause issues with getting play calls in on the sideline in time. That seemed to be the case here.
“Sometimes no one can hear it,” Shanahan added. “… 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 CRAIG CARTON SHOW–UNFILTERED, UNAPOLOGETIC AND UNMISSABLE. DOWNLOAD HIS DAILY PODCAST NOW!
San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan watches from the sideline during the second half of an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Tampa, Florida, on Oct. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)
Shanahan is known as one of the best offensive play-callers in the sport, but it’s not always smooth sailing on game day. The clock is always playing a major factor, but the chemistry between play-caller and quarterback is what matters most.
So, there’s no disconnect on that front, as Shanahan has seen Purdy be one of the top signal callers in the game thus far through this undefeated start.
For quarterbacks who have played through all six weeks, Purdy owns the league’s best quarterback rating (118.1) while throwing for 1,460 yards with a 69.6% completion rate, 14 touchdowns and only two interceptions.
Brock Purdy and head coach Kyle Shanahan of the San Francisco 49ers stand before a game against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium on Sept. 15, 2024, in Minneapolis, Minn. The Vikings defeated the 49ers 23-17. (Getty Images)
OUTKICK IS NOW AVAILABLE ON THE FOX NEWS APP: CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD
Shanahan, Purdy and the rest of the 49ers will aim to remain unbeaten in Week 7 down in Atlanta.
SIGN UP FOR THE DAILY OUTKICK NEWSLETTER