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San Francisco – January 14, 2026 The San Francisco 49ers’ Wild Card victory was supposed to end with a perfect night of celebration. Inside the team’s private dining area, laughter filled the room, players raised glasses, and the coaching staff shared moments from a hard-fought playoff win. It was the kind of night every team dreams of during a postseason run. But amid the celebration, a small detail quietly drew attention. Two empty seats. No Brock Purdy.No Christian McCaffrey. At first, no one thought much of it. On playoff nights, it’s not unusual for a player or two to be tied up with treatment or media responsibilities. But as the evening wore on - after several rounds of toasts - their absence began to feel… unusual. One 49ers player later reflected on the moment with a thoughtful tone: “Everyone was having a great time, laughing, raising glasses, replaying the big moments. It wasn’t until the party was almost over that we realized those two still hadn’t shown up. When they finally returned, the celebration was basically finished.” The explanation for their absence surfaced later - and it had nothing to do with strategy, contracts, or internal issues. According to multiple team sources, Brock Purdy and Christian McCaffrey left the stadium immediately after the game and went straight to George Kittle’s home, where the tight end was dealing with the aftermath of a serious injury. There were no cameras. No announcements. No attention drawn to it. Just a quiet, urgent trip. George Kittle was unable to attend the team’s victory dinner due to the pain and recovery following his injury. While the rest of the roster celebrated a major playoff milestone, Purdy and McCaffrey chose a different path - one that was quieter, more private, and far more meaningful. They stayed with Kittle, talked with him, offered support, and made sure their teammate didn’t have to spend that night alone. By the time they returned, it was too late to rejoin the celebration. Back at the team dinner, the festivities continued. But once the story began circulating, the mood shifted - not to sadness, but to respect. In a league where success is often measured by scores, statistics, and trophies, this moment highlighted something deeper: a team built on human connection before football. One member of the coaching staff summed it up simply:“Wins can wait. Teammates can’t.” There was no press release. No immediate social media post. Yet when the story emerged, the reaction across the NFL was nearly unanimous - quiet, reflective, and emotional. Because sometimes, what truly shakes the league isn’t a touchdown or a brilliant scheme, but the choice to miss the biggest celebration of the season to stand beside someone who needs you most. And for the 49ers, that may have been the most powerful win of Wild Card weekend.