Shanahan Confirms Purdy Often Throws Without Seeing His Target
The short version
- Kyle Shanahan agreed with Brock Purdy's estimate that he can't see his receiver on about 40% of his throws
- Purdy has completed 45 of 56 passes (80.4%) and the 49ers are 2-0
- Shanahan said blocked sightlines from linemen and linebackers make vision one of the hardest parts of playing quarterback
- Shanahan previously said Purdy now understands the reasoning behind the offense better than when he first became the starter
- Nick Bosa is expected to miss multiple weeks and injuries have hit the receiving group
The 49ers coach backed Brock Purdy's estimate that blocked sightlines hide his receiver on roughly 40% of throws, calling vision one of the toughest parts of playing quarterback.
San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said on September 26 that he agrees with quarterback Brock Purdy's estimate that Purdy cannot actually see his intended receiver on roughly 40% of his throws. The comment adds context to what has been a strong start to the season for the fourth-year passer.
Purdy has been highly efficient through two games. He has completed 45 of 56 passes, a completion rate of 80.4%, and the 49ers have opened the season 2-0. Despite that production, Shanahan noted that obscured vision remains a challenge that even a quarterback playing at Purdy's level cannot fully control.
Speaking about the difficulty, Shanahan explained that clean throwing windows are rare from inside the pocket. He said it does not matter how tall a quarterback is, because linemen on both sides of the ball get their hands up and block sightlines, while linebackers sit underneath routes and force the ball to be placed over or behind them. He called it one of the toughest parts of the quarterback position.
The reality means a quarterback is not always looking directly at the player he is throwing toward. Purdy has improved at handling those situations as his experience has accumulated since taking over as the starter late in the 2022 season, facing a range of coverages, blitzes, and defensive approaches along the way.
In an earlier interview with Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area, reported in September 2026, Shanahan said Purdy now understands the reasoning behind the offense far better than he did when he first became the starter. Rather than simply knowing his assignment, Purdy has built enough experience to recognize defensive looks and react more quickly, which matters when he cannot fully rely on his eyes.
Shanahan also praised Purdy's consistency and even temperament, including his ability to stay level through mistakes. The coach described the 26-year-old as having played at a high level from the beginning, framing his development as added experience on an already strong foundation rather than a dramatic transformation.
San Francisco will need that steadiness in the weeks ahead. Injuries have affected the team's receiving group, and defensive end Nick Bosa is expected to miss multiple weeks, putting more responsibility on Purdy to keep navigating crowded throwing lanes.
The 49ers' next game is at home at Levi's Stadium, where they host the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, September 27 at 4:05 PM EDT on FOX.
