San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy recently expressed unwavering support for his offensive line. However, retired guard Jonathan Feliciano sharply criticized the unit, creating a rift in public perception. As the 49ers gear up for the 2025 season following a disappointing 6-11 campaign, the offensive line remains under scrutiny.
Jonathan Feliciano Criticizes 49ers Offensive Line Despite Brock Purdy’s Support
During a recent interview on KNBR, Purdy was asked about ongoing criticism directed at the offensive line. The 25-year-old quarterback stood firmly behind his protectors.
Brock Purdy’s message to people who say the 49ers offensive line needed to be upgraded this offseason:
“Every game and situation is different and things happen and whatnot, but those guys up front, they are war daddies. Every single day they come to work, getting better. I’ve… pic.twitter.com/4OKEesqC0W
— Coach Yac 🗣 (@Coach_Yac) May 22, 2025
“Those guys up front, I can tell you, they are war daddies,” Purdy said. “Every single day, they’re coming to work, getting better. I’ve got their back, they’ve got mine, and now we’re going to be just fine. And these guys here have what it takes to have a successful season. Everybody’s going to find out soon.”
Despite Purdy’s confidence, not everyone shares his views. Retired 49ers guard Jonathan Feliciano, who stepped away from the game in February, openly criticized the team’s offensive line in a recent social media post.
Everyone on the team are first ballet hall of famers to be able to have so much success in spite of that shitty OL 😂😂 https://t.co/31pADT9Smr
— Jonathan Feliciano (@MongoFeliciano)
“Everyone on the team are first ballet Hall of Famers to be able to have so much success in spite of that s***** OL,” Feliciano wrote.
Feliciano’s blunt remark reflects broader fan frustration. There were͏ expectations that the 49e͏rs ͏would make significant improvements to their offensive͏ line in the 2025 NFL Draft. Instead, they waited until the ͏seventh round͏ to͏ ͏pick͏ their lone͏ lineman,͏ guard Connor ͏Colby. Additionally, three more͏ linemen were brought in via free agency͏,͏ but͏ all are ͏expected to compete ͏for ͏backup roles͏ ͏rather than starting spots.
Feliciano had suggested he might return later in the season, stating in his retirement note, “I’ll be ready for a playoff run in December if you need me.” But given his latest critical remarks, the chances of a comeback with the 49ers now seem slim.
The veteran landed on injured reserve on August 28,͏ 2024͏, and did not return to ͏action for the rest of the season. ͏In his ͏absence, rookie D͏ominic͏k Pu͏ni ͏stepped in and quickly stood out, earning an 80.5 Pro Football Focus grade, the highest among all rookie͏ offensive linemen.
While San Francisco allowed only 36 sacks last season, ranking 12th in the league, Feliciano’s criticism suggests deeper concerns about the unit’s consistency and effectiveness. Whether Purdy’s belief proves accurate or Feliciano’s doubts are validated remains to be seen.