The San Francisco 49ers didn’t just see their season end with a lopsided loss. They watched the aftermath spiral into viral mockery that cut far deeper than the final score.
Following a 41–6 defeat to the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Divisional Round, attention quickly shifted away from the field and toward social media, where insults and ridicule aimed at San Francisco players began spreading rapidly.
One moment, in particular, fueled the backlash. After a tense exchange during the game involving cornerback Deommodore Lenoir and Seahawks receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, a post from Smith-Njigba’s brother labeling Lenoir a “little brother” went viral — framing the 49ers defender as someone who had been dominated and humiliated.
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For a locker room already processing a crushing end to the season, the online reaction felt like piling on.
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That’s when Brock Purdy stepped in.
Rather than deflecting or staying silent, Purdy took ownership of the loss and drew a clear line between criticism of performance and disrespect toward his teammates.
“I didn’t play well today, and that’s on me,” Purdy said after the game. “But I want people to respect my teammates. These guys gave more than 100 percent all season. I’m not going to make excuses or blame anything — but what they put into this year deserves respect.”
It was a quarterback doing what franchise leaders are expected to do: absorbing the blame and shielding the locker room.
San Francisco’s night unraveled quickly in Seattle. The Seahawks controlled the game from the opening kickoff, dictated tempo on both sides of the ball, and never allowed the 49ers to establish rhythm. By halftime, the outcome was already slipping away. By the fourth quarter, the season was over.
But the fallout lingered.
The viral “little brother” narrative struck a nerve because it landed on top of a rivalry loss, a blowout scoreline, and a season that had demanded physical sacrifice from the roster. Several 49ers starters played through injuries throughout the year, while others were sidelined late — not from lack of toughness, but from damage that simply couldn’t be ignored.
Inside the building, Purdy’s message resonated.
He didn’t deny the reality of the loss. He didn’t dispute that Seattle earned the win. But he made it clear that effort and commitment weren’t up for debate.
For the 49ers, the defeat will be remembered not just for how it ended on the scoreboard, but for how quickly the narrative turned personal. And in that moment, their quarterback made sure one thing was said out loud.
Accountability starts with him.
Respect, he insisted, belongs to everyone wearing red and gold.
