SEATTLE – Brock Purdy bought time in the pocket, rolled right and threw up a Hail Mary-esque pass, even if it was only a 4-yard desperation lob.
Jake Tonges, subbing for the injured George Kittle, somehow used all 6-foot-4 of his frame to pull down his first-ever touchdown catch.
The 49ers had a four-point lead with 1 1/2 minutes remaining in their chaotic season opener. More chaos was coming. So was Nick Bosa.
San Francisco 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa (97) runs down the field with the ball during the second half of an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Bosa recovered a Sam Darnold strip-sack fumble with 36 seconds remaining inside the 49ers’ red zone to preserve a season-opening 17-13 win.
“It was a rollercoaster,” Bosa said, “and in the NFL you he to stay even keel, no matter what happens, because if I’m not locked in on that last play, maybe we lose.”
Bosa pushed Seahawks right tackle Abraham Lucas into Darnold in the pocket, the ball came loose, Bosa pounced on it, and a few minutes later, Purdy skipped off into the visitors’ tunnel with his first win as a $265 million quarterback.
Thus, the 49ers were not doomed by Jake Moody’s disastrous field-goal attempts, Purdy’s two interceptions after halftime, or injuries that took out Kittle (hamstring), wide receiver Jauan Jennings (shoulder) and, temporarily, left tackle Trent Williams (ankle/knee).
GRAND FINALE, PART I
Tonges said his first career touchdown played out in slow motion as a 10-second moment he will remember forever.
“I went up, caught it, looked down at my feet to make sure I was inbound, looked around for flags, and it was silent because we’re on the road,” Tonges said. “Someone, I think Russell Gage, said: ‘You scored, you scored.’ Then I spiked the ball and celebrated with all my guys.”
Up until the winning drive, Tonges had no career receptions — to the surprise of Purdy and most teammates afterward. Tonges produced catches for 2 and 9 yards only a few snaps before Purdy sought him out for the finale.
“The coverage was tight and I felt I needed to lee the pocket and find a guy in the end zone,” Purdy said. “I wanted to put it hopefully where Tonges could get it or no one could get it. It was a close call.”
Purdy sparked that drive with a 45-yard completion to Ricky Pearsall, thrusting the 49ers to the Seahawks’ 22-yard line. After Tonges’ initial catches, McCaffrey had a 1-yard run and a 6-yard catch, setting up a third-and-3 from the 4-yard line, which Purdy and Tonges turned into magic.
Seattle coach Mike Maconald said: “We played the first 9.9 of that 10-second play at the end phenomenally. The guy made a great play.”
GRAND FINALE, DEFENSIVELY
The Seahawks threatened to nullify Tonges’ score with their own touchdown, and a 40-yard pass from Darnold to Jaxon Smith-Njigba got them in the red zone. After pass rusher Bryce Huff jumped offside, Bosa stopped Kenneth Walker III for no gain and followed his a strip-sack fumble recovery.
“In those two-minute situations, you want to go tee off on the quarterback,” Shanahan said. “And from what I saw, it was an awesome job not just running past him and allowing him to step up. He got to the top, came back underneath. … To finish it right there, we don’t he to worry about what else would he happened.”
Bosa said of the winning finish: “It tested us in a lot of ways, so it was really good. Obviously ending with a win is what we’re always aiming for, and the fact I was able to help is always great.”
Darnold, the 49ers’ 2023 backup, was 16-of-23 for 150 yards and one sack.
‘NO QUESTION’ MOODY STAYS?
The third time was Moody’s charm, as he tied the score at 10 by converting a 32-yard attempt with 9:42 remaining. Shanahan said there is “no question” Moody will remain the 49ers’ kicker, but he did note he didn’t want to make any heat-of-the-moment proclamation and would review everything about this game.
Earlier, Moody added to his struggles from last season and the preseason. A 27-yard attempt from the left hashmark careened into the left upright. In turn, it was the Seahawks who got a go-ahead field goal just before halftime, with Jason Myers converting from 48 yards for a 10-7 lead.
Moody’s second field goal attempt, from 36 yards, got blocked when Julian Love quickly jumped past Matt Hennessy and smothered Moody’s attempt on its ascent. Shanahan, irate at the time, blamed that block on the “operation” of the blockers.
Christian McCaffrey #23 of the San Francisco 49ers runs the ball during the second quarter against the Seattle Seahawks during the game at Lumen Field on Sept. 07, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Amanda Loman/Getty Images)
McCAFFREY VERY ACTIVE
Questionable with a calf issue, McCaffrey was not eased into duty. He produced 142 yards from scrimmage as the 49ers’ greatest offensive weapon, though he was relieved on occasion by Brian Robinson Jr. (nine carries, 33 yards).
Asked how his body will respond, McCaffrey quipped: “Amazing.” He had 22 carries for 69 yards and nine receptions for 73 yards.
GRAND OPENING
Purdy engineered a 95-yard, 14-play touchdown drive on the 49ers’ first possession, capped off by a 5-yard touchdown pass to Kittle near the front right pylon. Keeping that series afloat were three third-down conversions: receptions by Kittle (eight yards) and Pearsall (26 yards), but also a roughing-the-passer penalty on Leonard Williams on a Purdy incompletion.
The Seahawks answered the 49ers’ first touchdown drive, also capitalizing on a defensive penalty. After Upton Stout drew a pass-interference penalty on an apparent fourth-and-3 overthrow toward Cooper Kupp in the end zone, Zach Charbonnet scored on a 1-yard run for a 7-7 tie early in the second quarter.
HEALTH WATCH
— Kittle initially drew inspection from the 49ers’ medical staff on the bench following his touchdown catch. Five offensive snaps later, Kittle slowly walked to the sideline downfield after Purdy got sacked (when McCaffrey failed to block a blitzing safety).
— Jauan Jennings jogged off with a left shoulder injury early in the fourth quarter. He caught 2-of-5 targets for 16 yards, including an 11-yard gain on third down. Already without Brandon Aiyuk (knee), Demarcus Robinson (suspended) and Jordan Watkins (ankle), Shanahan acknowledged the 49ers might sign Kendrick Bourne, who worked out for them Monday.
Related Articles Photos: Former Gilroy home of 49er selling for $3.9 million Kurtenbach: An act of mercy — it’s time (again) for the 49ers to cut kicker Jake Moody 49ers bring back Kendrick Bourne with Jauan Jennings injured Inman: 10 things that caught my eye in 49ers’ frantic comeback win in Seattle Monday Morning Lights: Tonges’ winning catch for 49ers makes Los Gatos coach proud— All-Pro linebacker Fred Warner got kicked in the face on the Seahawks’ first scoring drive, his helmet popping loose and his nose bludgeoned by Charbonnet’s foot on an outside run. Warner returned that series with cotton stuffed up his left nostril, and he opened the next drive with a tackle for loss. Said Bosa: “His nose was just leaking blood. I was like, ‘You OK? You don’t look OK.’”
— Left tackle Trent Williams hurt his problematic right ankle on the same series (the 49ers’ third) in which Kittle left. Williams did not miss any snaps, however.
— Defensive end Sam Okuayinonu was evaluated and cleared of a potential concussion. He forced a fumble that was recovered by safety Marques Sigle, who started in his NFL debut.
“We he a really new team,” McCaffrey said. “There’s so much talk about our past teams and we try to wipe away all the past noise away and focus on this team. To he a bunch of new guys come out for the first time together and play with each other and get out a gritty win against a good team in a touch environment, that’s a big deal.”
San Francisco 49ers tight end Jake Tonges (88) reacts after a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - SEPTEMBER 07: George Kittle #85 of the San Francisco 49ers catches a pass against Coby Bryant #8 of the Seattle Seahawks during the first quarter during the game at Lumen Field on September 07, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
San Francisco 49ers tight end Jake Tonges (88) makes a touchdown catch during the second half of an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
George Kittle #85 of the San Francisco 49ers scores a touchdown against Ty Okada #39 of the Seattle Seahawks during the first quarter during the game at Lumen Field on Sept. 07, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
Brian Robinson Jr. #3 of the San Francisco 49ers catches the ball during the second quarter against the Seattle Seahawks during the game at Lumen Field on Sept. 07, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
Brock Purdy #13 of the San Francisco 49ers looks to pass the ball against the Seattle Seahawks during the game at Lumen Field on Sept. 07, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (13) tries to get past Seattle Seahawks linebacker Boye Mafe (53) during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
San Francisco 49ers cornerback Deommodore Lenoir (2) celebrates as the clock winds down during the second half of an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)
San Francisco 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa (97) runs down the field with the ball during the second half of an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Jake Tonges #88 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates a touchdown during the fourth quarter against the Seattle Seahawks during the game at Lumen Field on Sept. 07, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Amanda Loman/Getty Images)
San Francisco 49ers tight end Luke Farrell (89) is tackled by Seattle Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon (21) and linebacker Ernest Jones IV (13) during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
San Francisco 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa (97) runs down the field with the ball during the second half of an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)1 of 12San Francisco 49ers tight end Jake Tonges (88) reacts after a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)Expand
Originally Published: September 7, 2025 at 4:08 PM PDT