In a dramatic twist that could reshape the franchise’s immediate future, internal sources have revealed growing tensions within the San Francisco 49ers front office over the team’s quarterback situation — a divide that could pit Brock Purdy’s camp against lingering supporters of former top pick Trey Lance.
Despite leading the Niners to a Super Bowl appearance last season, Brock Purdy’s long-term status as the unquestioned QB1 is reportedly under internal scrutiny, with some influential figures in the building questioning whether the team crowned him too quickly.
The rift reportedly stems from personnel insiders and scouts who remain firm believers in Trey Lance’s untapped potential, believing his development was stunted — not outplayed — and that the front office abandoned a long-term investment for short-term security.
One anonymous NFC West executive claims, “There are people in that building who believe Purdy is a system quarterback — efficient but replaceable. And they’re not wrong to ask why Lance never got a true shot with a healthy roster.”
Complicating matters further is head coach Kyle Shanahan’s reportedly lukewarm stance on Lance from the start — a position that’s reopened old wounds in the scouting department, which pushed heavily for the blockbuster trade to draft Lance at No. 3 overall in 2021.
As training camp nears, insiders say the 49ers’ leadership faces a crucial question: Double down on Purdy as the franchise centerpiece, or re-evaluate the quarterback depth chart amid growing internal pressure?
The locker room, for now, is reportedly behind Purdy — but the cracks in the building’s foundation are beginning to show.
With a Super Bowl window wide open and a championship-starved fan base growing restless, one misstep in this quarterback tug-of-war could define — or derail — the 49ers’ next five years.
The noise is getting louder. And the questions are only just beginning.