NEW YORK – San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy, Philadelphia Eagles defensive back Cooper DeJean and Chicago Bears kicker Cairo Santos are the NFC Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Week for games played in Week 16 (December 18, 20-22).
OFFENSE: QB BROCK PURDY, SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
- Purdy completed 25 of 34 pass attempts (73.5 percent) for 295 yards and a career-high five touchdown passes with a 126.8 passer rating in San Francisco’s 48-27 win at Indianapolis. Purdy became the first 49ers quarterback with five touchdown passes in a regular-season game since Pro Football Hall of Famer Joe Montana on Oct. 14, 1990. Purdy led the NFL in touchdown passes in Week 16 and led the NFC in passer rating and completion percentage.
- This is Purdy’s second-career Player of the Week award. He joins Pro Football Hall of Famers Steve Young (11-time winner) and Joe Montana (eight) as well as Jeff Garcia (two) as the only 49ers quarterbacks to win multiple Player of the Week awards.
- Purdy is the only former Iowa State player to earn multiple Offensive Player of the Week awards.
DEFENSE: DB COOPER DEJEAN, PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
- DeJean recorded four tackles, a career-high four passes defensed and an interception in Philadelphia’s 29-18 win at Washington. He is one-of-two players in the NFL – and the only player in the NFC – to record at least four tackles, four passes defensed and an interception in a game this season, joining Joey Porter Jr. (Week 9).
- This is DeJean’s first-career Defensive Player of the Week award and he becomes the third Eagles player to earn Player of the Week honors this season, joining Jordan Davis (Weeks 3 and 11) and Quinyon Mitchell (Week 4).
- DeJean is the fourth former Iowa defensive back to win Player of the Week honors, joining Merton Hanks (four-time winner), Desmond King (two-time winner) and Bob Sanders (Week 2, 2007).
SPECIAL TEAMS: K CAIRO SANTOS, CHICAGO BEARS
- Santos converted all three of his field goal attempts in a driving wind – from 46, 51 and 43 yards – and his lone point after attempt, as well as helped the Bears’ special teams recover an onside kick with 1:59 remaining in regulation in Chicago’s 22-16 overtime win against Green Bay. He was the only NFC kicker to score at least 10 points and make 100 percent of his kicks, including one from 50-yards-or-longer.
- This is Santos’ third Special Teams Player of the Week award. He becomes the fifth Bears player to earn Player of the Week honors this season, joining Caleb Williams (Week 3), Josh Blackwell (Week 4), Colston Loveland (Week 9) and D’Marco Jackson (Week 15). Santos joins Paul Edinger, Robbie Gould and Jeff Jaeger as the only Bears kickers to earn three Special Teams Player of the Week honors.
- 2020: Week 6
- 2022: Week 7
- 2025: Week 16
- Santos surpasses kicker Eddie Murray (two-time winner) for the most Player of the Week awards by a former Tulane player.
