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San Francisco 49ers Quarterback Brock Purdy needed a touchdown late in the game against Seattle Seahawks, and he trusted his tight end to play in the final zone.
No, it wasn’t the usual suspect, George Kittle, but Jake Tonges, who got the game-winning touchdown grip in a 17-13 win over the NFC West rival Seahawks to open the 2025 NFL season.
Kittle caught the 49ers’ first touchdown pass in the season from Purdy, but he left early with a hamstring injury. On the other hand, Tonges, who has played only 20 games since joining the league in 2022 with Chicago Bears, had to step up to San Francisco.
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Jake Tonges #88 by San Francisco 49ers celebrates a touchdown over the fourth quarter against Seattle Seathawks during the game at Lumen Field on September 7, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. (Amanda Loman/Getty Images)
That moment came on the third-and-3 from the Seahawks’ 4-yard line when Purdy examined the final zone and couldn’t find a teammate with his team down three. Rinsed to the right, Purdy threw a prayer to Tange in the back corner of the final zone with the Seahawks Cornerback Riq Woolen killed on him.
Somehow, Tange stepped in front of wool, jumped into the air and snagged the football to the game -winning score. It was Tonges’ third catch of the game, but the most important thing when San Francisco got away with a key road victory.
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Kittle was seen throwing his hands in the air on the sidelines to celebrate his colleague Tight End’s Pivotal Catch.
The 49s secured the victory thanks to a strip-bag of Edge Rusher Nick Bosa on the Seahawk’s quarterback Sam Darnold. Seattle ran on the 49ers’ 9-yard line when the piece happened with 42 seconds left.
Jake Tonges #88 by San Francisco 49ers celebrates a touchdown over the fourth quarter against Seattle Seathawks during the game at Lumen Field on September 7, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. (Amanda Loman/Getty Images)
Purdy ended with 277 passing yards of 26 of 35 with two touchdowns and two interceptions in a roller coaster open. Although it was not his best performance, having Christian McCaffrey Sund helped in the back field.
McCaffrey’s availability was in doubt again about starting the season, as it was in 2024 when he treated bilateral Achilles tendinitis. But this calf disorder was not serious enough to sideline him, and he ran in 69 yards on 22 carriers while caught nine passes in 73 yards.
Ricky Pearsall, expected to be a key weapon in San Francisco’s passing games, led the road with 108 yards on four catches, including a 45-yard reception from Purdy.
San Francisco 49ers tight end Jake Tonges (88) catches the ball for a touchdown defended by Seattle Seahawks Cornerback Riq Wool (27) during the second half of Lumen Field on September 7, 2025. (Steven Bisig/IMAGN -Pictures)
As for Seahawks, Darnold went 16 out of 23 in 150 yards and appears to have strong chemistry with Jaxson Smith-Njigba, who targeted 13 times and caught nine passports in 124 yards. Zach Charbonnet, not Kenneth Walker III, scored Seattle’s only touchdown.
