The San Francisco 49ers dominated ESPN's quarter-season awards, with five players or coaches landing in the top three of four categories in Bill Barnwell's rankings through Week 4.
Quarterback Brock Purdy took the top spot in the MVP race, edging Jacksonville's Trevor Lawrence and Dallas' Dak Prescott. Barnwell noted Purdy's only interception came in the Week 1 win over the Rams. He also became the first quarterback since Peyton Manning in 2004 to throw at least 50 passes over a season's first quarter without being sacked. Barnwell credited Purdy for leading the league in most passing categories despite a revolving door at receiver.
Left tackle Trent Williams was named the top candidate to win Protector of the Year. Barnwell wrote that Williams and the rest
of the offensive line haven't allowed a sack, and that Williams has allowed one quick pressure while on an island on 87.6% of his pass-protection opportunities, the highest rate of any lineman. Barnwell called him the best tackle in football, despite missing 22 snaps against the Cardinals with an injury. Cincinnati's Amarius Mims and Denver's Quinn Meinerz rounded out the top three.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan checked in at No. 3 for Coach of the Year, behind Chicago's Ben Johnson and Las Vegas' Klint Kubiak, who took the top spot. Barnwell pointed to Shanahan's 4-0 record and elite offensive showings despite Mike Evans, De'Zhaun Stribling and Christian Kirk all missing time, as well as the team's league-high usage of motion on offense (75.4%, second in the NFL).
Two 49ers also made the Comeback Player of the Year top three: Tight end George Kittle ranked third after returning from a torn Achilles suffered in the postseason, leading all tight ends with 3.3 yards per route run and scoring four touchdowns, including a 56-yarder against the Broncos. Linebacker Fred Warner ranked second after returning from a dislocated and fractured ankle, making more than 19% of the 49ers' run tackles when on the field.
Depending on how the rest of the 2026 season goes, the 49ers could win a lot of NFL awards later this year.
This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: Purdy tops ESPN's MVP ranking through Week 4; other 49ers earn nods
