49ers HC comments on MVP race between Brock Purdy, Christian McCaffrey
San Francisco head coach Kyle Shanahan claims the 49ers have two Most Valuable Player candidates. However, he can't decide which one should win the coveted award.
On Wednesday, Shanahan explained quarterback Brock Purdy and running back Christian McCaffrey are among the best players in the league, and either one deserves to hoist MVP at the end of the season.
"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 of them because I don't want them to cancel each other out."
Typically, MVP goes to a QB. The last non-QB to win it was former Minnesota Vikings RB Adrian Peterson in 2012. As of Thursday, oddschecker gives Purdy — who is tied for second in the league in passing TDs (25 in 13 games) — the second-best odds (+200) to win the award.
McCaffrey is making a compelling case, though. In 13 games, he leads the NFL in yards (1,614), touches (278) and is second in TDs (17).
"If any non-quarterback's going to get an MVP, I don't get how Christian McCaffrey can't," Shanahan said. "If (the MVP) is going to a quarterback, then I don't have to talk about Christian — I can talk about our quarterback. If his numbers are all you see, then I think that solves it."
While the HC won't reveal his MVP pick, he knows he's lucky since he has two difference-makers who could help San Francisco win its first title in 29 years and clinch home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.
As of Thursday, oddschecker lists the 49ers (10-3) as the Super Bowl favorite (+260). Per ESPN's NFL playoffs machine, they will secure the No. 1 seed in the NFC if they win their next four games.
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