As we head into the final month of the 2023 NFL regular season, the San Francisco 49ers have cemented their status as one of the top dogs in the league. They are tied with four other teams for the best record in the league at 10-3 and have received excellent production from several players up and down the roster.
On offense, two players have stood out on the team; quarterback Brock Purdy and running back Christian McCaffrey. Both have produced at a high level all season, resulting in some MVP chatter surrounding the star duo.
But, don’t expect 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan to get involved in the award talks. When asked about it on Wednesday, Shanahan agreed that Purdy should be in the MVP conversations, but added that McCaffrey deserves consideration as well. But, he isn’t going to back one player over the other.
NFL News & Rumors: Christian McCaffrey, Kyle Shanahan, Brock Purdy. San Francisco 49ers Updates
“Are you trying to get me in trouble with those two guys?” Shanahan said. “That’s the only reason I wouldn’t overly comment on either one of them because I don’t want them to cancel each other out.”
Current odds have Purdy listed as one of the favorites for the award, listed at +175. He is second on some sportsbooks behind Dak Prescott of the Dallas Cowboys, who is at +160. McCaffrey is much further down the list, who is considered a long shot at +5,000.
“If any non-quarterback’s going to get a MVP, I don’t get how Christian McCaffrey can’t,” Shanahan said. “I mean, he’s amazing in what he has done all year.”
McCaffrey is in his first season with the 49ers after the team acquired him from the Carolina Panthers ahead of last year’s deadline. He has been everything the team could have hoped for and more, leading the league with 1,177 rushing yards. His 17 touchdowns scored are second in the NFL behind only Raheem Mostert of the Miami Dolphins, who has 18.
It has been a while since a non-quarterback won the MVP award. Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson was the last player to accomplish that feat in 2012. This season, Tyreek Hill of the Dolphins is going to make a strong case, along with McCaffrey, as a non-QB MVP candidate.
NFL News & Rumors: Christian McCaffrey, Kyle Shanahan, Brock Purdy. San Francisco 49ers Updates
Purdy has certainly earned the recognition he is receiving. He is near the top of multiple passing categories and has had a record-setting start to his career. Purdy currently leads the NFL in yards per attempt with 9.9, quarterback rating with a 116.9 and QBR with 74.7.
“If [the MVP] is going to a quarterback, then I don’t have to talk about Christian — I can talk about our quarterback,” Shanahan said. “If his numbers is all you see, then I think that solves it up. But if you watch the film, then it makes it even stronger, which to me is the most important thing.”
Purdy and McCaffrey can both make a strong case for the award. But, as Shanahan said, there is a chance that they cancel each other out, allowing someone else to sneak in and win the award at the end of the season.
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