SANTA CLARA – Kyle did something strange after the 49ers lost 28-18 to the Chiefs on Sunday.

After his post-match press conference, he walked straight up to Brock Purdy at his locker and appeared to quietly chew him out for at least five minutes. Shanahan didn’t shout because he clearly didn’t want the media to hear what he said, but he waved his arms and pointed his fingers and seemed irritated. You didn’t have to be a body language expert to tell that he was upset and talking in a stern manner. Purdy stood up and looked at Shanahan, nodding every few seconds like a good soldier, but saying nothing. Finally, the two shook hands and Shanahan left.

A few minutes later, Purdy walked to the podium for his post-match press conference. So I asked him what Shanahan said to him in his locker.

“We were just talking during the game about some things and some moments in the game and how we can get better and move forward,” Purdy said. “It was basically just that.”

It’s certainly possible that Shanahan spoke constructively about ways both he and Purdy can improve together.

But that’s not what the interaction looked like. By the way Shanahan gestured as he spoke, he gave the appearance of singling out Purdy for his mistakes and essentially blaming him for the loss. Coach him. And he did this in front of Purdy’s teammates and media members, who might have placed the responsibility for the terrible loss on Shanahan’s shoulders, since Andy Reid owned him.

Purdy seemed humiliated.

This is why players don’t appreciate being called into the locker rooms by coaches after losses. Those conversations should be private.

I wonder how Purdy feels about Shanahan right now.

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