SANTA CLARA >> It’s not unusual around this time for gifts to be exchanged in NFL locker rooms.
A year ago, running back Christian McCaffrey gave the entire offense custom fit golf clubs with personalized bags and a bottle of high-end tequila as holiday gifts.
What 49ers’ quarterback Brock Purdy had in mind wasn’t going to fit in a locker room.
A video released by the club Friday on “X” featured Purdy leading his linemen to a parking lot recently with 10 new sports utility vehicles, each adorned with a red ribbon on top. The vehicles were gifted last week.
“You guys can check ‘em out, but these are yours,” Purdy said. “Thanks for all you do.”
The sticker price for five Toyota Tundras and five Sequoias is more than $500,000, although Purdy does commercials for Toyota, which also serves as a 49ers sponsor.
“I think it shows he’s a hell of a guy and that he got a hell of a deal,” 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said Friday.
Nick Zakelj, a center/guard and Purdy’s roommate during his first two seasons, took a seat in his gift and said, `Oh, my God, I can’t believe this.”
Guard Aaron Banks started his new car, revved the engine and said, “Listen to that purr... Purdy.”
The last word came from tackle Jaylon Moore.
“My mind is blown, honestly,” Moore said. “This is probably the greatest gift I’ve ever got in my life.”When Purdy received his gift from McCaffrey last season, he said, “Financially I wouldn’t be able to cover that right now. Shout to him. Everyone loves it. So thank you Christian.”
In the third year of his rookie deal, Purdy’s salary is $985,000 — the same as linemen Zakelj and Spencer Burford. He’s on the books for $1.1 million next season, but is expected to sign a contract extension which could pay him as much as $50 million pear year or more.
LYNCH ON CAMPBELL’S NO-SHOW >>
General manager John Lynch talked about his decision to banish De’Vondre Campbell from the sideline after the veteran linebacker said he didn’t want to play in a 12-6 loss to the Los Angeles Rams.
Campbell was suspended for the final three games of the season. Players and Shanahan addressed the issue in its immediate aftermath on Dec. 12.
With linebacker Dre Greenlaw returning to action and Dee Winters assuming the backup role in the base defense, Campbell was essentially demoted to No. 3. He was needed, however, when Greenlaw’s knee tightened at halftime and Winters sustained a neck injury.
“We had a little signal going in that his energy wasn’t right,” Lynch said Friday during his weekly appearance on KNBR-680. “Kyle had a conversation and we thought everything was going to be all right. It wasn’t, and you could see that right away during the game.”
Lynch said when it became clear to him that Campbell was declining to play and that teammates and coaches were involved in the mini-drama, he went to the field after halftime rather than late in the fourth quarter like usual.
“I finally just said I need to see what’s going on, and if what’s going on his what I think is going on, he needs to get off the field,” Lynch said. “That’s simply what it was and that’s how it ended up. It’s unfortunate. It’s nothing anyone wanted, but you can’t stand for that.
“We’re talking about finishing and having each other’s backs, and when you have something contrary to that, that’s not who we are, and that’s not who we’ll ever be.”
Campbell departed the field with a member of the 49ers’ support staff and was gone by the time the game was over.
Lynch said he didn’t know the reason Campbell declined to play.
“I don’t know and I don’t think I’ll ever find out,” Lynch said. “He’s no longer here and we’ll move forward.”
Juice Leads Fullbacks >> Juszczyk is the only 49ers player to lead fan balloting for the 2025 Pro Bowl Games.
An eight-time Pro Bowler with the Baltimore Ravens and 49ers, Jusczyk is ahead of Kansas City fullback Carson Steele.
George Kittle is second among tight ends to Raiders’ rookie Brock Bowers (and first in the NFC), while edge rusher Nick Bosa and tackle Trent Williams are sixth in their respective positions.
Linebacker Fred Warner is No. 7 among inside linebackers. Purdy is not in the top 10 among quarterbacks.
The Pro Bowl teams are selected through voting by the fans, players and coaches.
No 49ers player ranks in the Top 10. There were nine 49ers who ended up Pro Bowlers last year — Bosa, Juszczyk, Williams, Kittle, McCaffrey, Warner, Purdy, defensive tackle Javon Hargrave, Warner and cornerback Charvarius Ward.