Bad Coaching’ Blamed for 49ers’ Super Bowl LVIII Loss, Not Brock Purdy, Ex-NFL Star Says

Former NFL star Cam Newton has weighed in on Brock Purdy’s performance in Super Bowl LVIII, where the San Francisco 49ers ultimately fell short in overtime against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Despite a decent showing by Purdy, who completed 23 of 38 passes for 255 yards and a touchdown while being sacked only once, Newton shifted the blame away from the quarterback. Speaking on his “4th & 1” podcast, Newton criticized the coaching decisions made by the 49ers, particularly their choice to receive the ball first in overtime.

“Field goal versus touchdown, that’s not Brock Purdy,” Newton asserted. “Why the f— did they receive the ball first? It was Tony Romo who mentioned this — when you know what you have to get, now you have four downs to get it, not three.”

According to Newton, the coaching staff’s strategy focused more on securing points rather than maximizing their chances of victory. He emphasized that Purdy “played good enough for his team to win,” placing the responsibility squarely on the coaching staff’s shoulders.

The 49ers’ lack of understanding of overtime rules also came under scrutiny, with players admitting their ignorance after the game. Fullback Kyle Juszczyk confessed, “You know what? I didn’t even realize the playoff rules were different in overtime. I assume you just want the ball to score a touchdown and win. I guess that’s not the case.” Similarly, defensive end Arik Armstead admitted, “I didn’t even know about the new playoff overtime rule, so it was a surprise to me.”

Newton’s remarks highlight the importance of coaching decisions and player preparedness in high-stakes games like the Super Bowl, where even the slightest oversight can have significant consequences.