Inman: Reviewing 49ers’ season, from Jimmy G’s camp exile to NFC title game pain
The 49ers' season could have been ruined earlier by quarterback injuries but a 12-game win streak teased another Lombardi Trophy run.
SANTA CLARA – The 49ers’ Lombardi Trophy drought is up to 28 seasons, and we should have seen it coming.
Add up their starting quarterbacks’ jersey numbers — No. 5 (Trey Lance) plus 10 (Jimmy Garoppolo) plus 13 (Brock Purdy) — and, yep, 28.
“Just please hang in there,” general manager John Lynch said Wednesday to their Faithful fan base. “We’re working our tails off to deliver a championship and we will not stop until we do that.”
The past two seasons crashed and burned in the NFC Championship Game. Last Sunday’s 31-7 exit in Philadelphia was assured once Brock Purdy’s elbow got torqued on their opening possession.
That was the lowest of lows in a dramatic season, which also came with startling highs, surprising stars and 12 straight wins. Onward with the consolation trophies:
Most Valuable Players: Nick Bosa, Christian McCaffrey
Yes, it’s a split vote. Bosa won the NFL’s sack title, joining Cedric Hardman (1971) as the only 49ers to do so. McCaffrey’s October trade brought an extra dimension to an offense that averaged 30 points during the 12-game win streak. This tandem will key next season, too.
Greatest surprise: Purdy
As the NFL Draft’s 262nd final pick, Purdy was honored as “Mr. Irrelevant” at a June ceremony in Newport Beach, complete with a dinner, a trophy and a surfboard. Fast forward: He is an NFL Rookie of the Year finalist. Big Shock Brock produced eight wins – two in the playoffs – and did so with coach Kyle Shanahan’s unmatched trust. Now doctors have to put humble Purdy back together again.
Dumbest stat: 78 percent
The Eagles’ win probability increased from 67 percent to 78 percent as a result of Purdy’s fumble on Hasson Reddick’s strip sack, according to the NFL’s NextGen Stats. The 49ers not lost only the football, they lost their starting quarterback’s ability to throw, so it was more like a 98 percent chance of defeat.
Best win: 19-12 vs. Cowboys
Joe Montana, Steve Young, Jerry Rice, Roger Craig, Merton Hanks and more alumni showed up for a throwback, playoff victory over the Cowboys in the divisional round. Any elimination of Dallas in the playoffs is the brightest spot of a season, barring a Lombardi Trophy.
Worst blunder: Garoppolo in Denver
Garoppolo retreated in play-action style before stutter-stepping out of the end zone in Denver. It was a humiliating safety when the 49ers led 7-3 in an 11-10 loss in Week 3. Runner-up: Josh Johnson fumbling a shotgun snap to help the Eagles’ knockout blow.
Hot-and-cold award: Deebo Samuel
He wasn’t traded, secured an extension, and got the 49ers out of a funk with a 57-yard touchdown against the Rams in Week 4. His regular-season totals (56 catches, 632, two touchdowns) were lower than his 2019 rookie year (57-802-3). But he valiantly returned from an ankle injury that saw him carted off against Tampa to put on a 165-yard show in the playoff win over Seattle. Weird season.
Most overlooked: Brandon Aiyuk
Aiyuk was the training camp MVP and he delivered his first 1,000-yard season. Honorable mention: Third-and-Jauan Jennings, free-agent-to-be kicker Robbie Gould, new starting center Jake Brendel, and, perennially underutilized fullback Kyle Juszczyk.
Best play call: “Hollywood”
Purdy faked a screen pass left, faked one right, then George Kittle finished acting as a blocker (hence: “Hollywood” play call) and snuck downfield for a “Kittle over the middle” touchdown call by Al Michaels. It sparked a rare win in Seattle, in Purdy’s first road (and only prime-time) start.
Best catch: Kittle’s juggle
The biggest catch of Kittle’s career sparked the 49ers’ go-ahead touchdown drive in their playoff win over Dallas. Purdy’s impromptu pass rattled off Kittle’s right hand, facemask and left hand before it got corraled for a 30-yard gain to midfield.
Saddest lineup: Defense in Atlanta
The 49ers’ defense entered Atlanta without six starters – Bosa, Arik Armstead, Javon Kinlaw, Azeez Al-Shaair, Emmanuel Moseley, Jimmie Ward – and then lost Charvarius Ward by halftime of a 28-14 defeat.
Take-charge moment: DeMeco in Atlanta
Defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans rallied his skeleton crew with a “Do. Your. Job!” sideline huddle during that loss at Atlanta. They didn’t allow a point afterward.
#49ers defense calls for sideline huddle down 28-14
I’m surprised they have enough healthy bodies left in uniform to make a full huddle pic.twitter.com/U0wWU9VW9M
— Cam Inman (@CamInman) October 16, 2022
Best autograph session: Tom Brady
An all-time surreal scene unfolded after the 49ers beat the Bucs 35-7 in Brady’s final Bay Area homecoming. At least a dozen 49ers greeted Brady afterward for handshakes and autographs, including on the footballs intercepted by Dre Greenlaw and Tashaun Gipson.
Best free agent: Charvarius Ward
He proved a legitimate No. 1 cornerback, especially with four pass breakups in an October win at Carolina. Honorable mention: Gipson, Ray-Ray McCloud, George Odum.
IGYB (I Got Your Back) Quote: Fred Warner
“(Purdy) has nothing to be sad about. He’s the reason we even got to this game. When Jimmy went down against the Dolphins, we didn’t know what our season would be. He came in and did a heck of a job. He’s the reason we’re here right now.” – Fred Warner after the NFC Championship Game.
Most improved: Aaron Banks
After five snaps as a rookie and blatant struggles in training camp, Banks evolved into a dominant left guard and started all but one game. Lining up next to All-Pro Trent Williams had its benefits.
Fastest riser: Talanoa Hufanga
Passionate, positive, and productive as a first-year starting safety, he locked up All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors with four interceptions in the first nine games (none thereafter).
Assistant coach of year: Brian Griese
Look at what Griese did in his first year as a coach, preparing three starting quarterbacks with vastly different skills and experience. (Disclaimer: Coordinators are exempt.)
Biggest villain: D.K. Metcalf
The Rams fell fast from their perch, so no nod here to Aaron Donald, Cooper Kupp or Matthew Stafford. The Cardinals offered DeAndre Hopkins, for one game. The Seahawks no longer had Russell Wilson but they offered Metcalf with his physical battles and verbal taunts. The Eagles’ Hasson Reddick was not a villain so much as he was the Grim Reaper in injuring Purdy, who was put in harm’s way after a brisk block by Tyler Kroft on Shanahan’s play call.
Worst weather: Chicago
A Chicago rainstorm ruined the 49ers’ season opener. More rain followed in practices and games like no season in recent memory. Heck, in November, the 49ers were practicing in minus-9 wind chill with light snow at the Air Force Academy amid altitude training for Mexico.
You’re looking live at rain-soaked Soldier Field
Kickoff in just over 2 hours to #49ers #Bears pic.twitter.com/VnqJ2g3jFZ
— Cam Inman (@CamInman) September 11, 2022
Best motto: “A blade of grass”
The 49ers shut out the Saints 13-0 but it took back-to-back goal-line stands. First, Hufanga forced an Alvin Kamara fumble that Dre Greenlaw recovered at the 1. Next series, Bosa sacked Andy Dalton on fourth down. “Yeah, all we need is a blade of grass,” Greenlaw said. “… We’re telling each other, ‘They’re not scoring on us.’ That’s our mindset.”
Best pass rush: Bosa in Vegas
Bosa’s most awe-inspiring pass rush came in overtime at Las Vegas, when his pressure forced an interception by Gipson to set up their 37-34 win, before the most festive 49ers’ road crowd of the season.
Best alumni cameos: Jim Harbaugh, Frank Gore
Harbaugh, as part of the 2012 team’s anniversary celebration, returned for the first time since the 2014 season. “Just an attitude of gratitude, for Jed and the York family,” Harbaugh said Oct. 23. Six weeks later, Frank Gore also returned for the first time since that 2014 exodus, saying: “I love this place.”
Ironman award: Split vote
Starting all 20 games were Aiyuk, Warner, Brendel, Hufanga and Gipson, plus Gould, long snapper Taybor Pepper and punter Mitch Wishnowsky.
Complaint department: Jimmie Ward
Reverting to nickel back was not Ward’s desire in a contract year, and he voiced that displeasure to media (and coaches) throughout the season (and afterward on Instagram Live). Hamstring and hand injuries shelved him from the defense for the first six games. That allowed Gipson to form a solid tandem with Hufanga at safety.
Rite of passage: Rookie benchwarmers
Purdy and right guard Spencer Burford thrived as starters, while fellow rookies mostly sat idle. Danny Gray totaled one catch. Ty Davis Price ran for just 99 yards. Drake Jackson had three sacks early in the season but played just one game over their final six.
Best passport stamp: Mexico
The 49ers drew massive support in their Mexico City win over the Cardinals. Other side trips: joint practices in Eagan, Minnesota, a third-annual layover at The Greenbrier in West Virginia, and, altitude training at the Air Force Academy in Colorado.
Parting words: Jimmy G
“I think things have a way of working out. That’s just how it is.” – Jimmy Garoppolo, in his final 49ers press conference, way back on Dec. 1. He prefaced that by saying the Miami Dolphins were “in the conversation” for him last offseason. Three days later, he broke his left foot early in a 49ers’ victory that put both teams’ records at 8-4, and along came Purdy.
Feels great, baby? Not anymore. Feels like a great goodbye.