Jake Tonges' Last-Second Touchdown Lifts 49ers to 17-13 Win Over Seahawks
Backup tight end Jake Tonges snags game-winning score as Brock Purdy delivers late; Nick Bosa forces decisive turnover in season opener at Lumen Field
Jake Tonges, a backup tight end with limited NFL experience, made a go-ahead touchdown catch in the fourth quarter and the San Francisco 49ers held on for a 17-13 victory over the Seattle Seahawks in the 2025 season opener at Lumen Field on Sunday.
Facing third-and-3 from Seattle’s 4-yard line late in the fourth, quarterback Brock Purdy rolled right and lofted a ball to the back corner of the end zone. With Seahawks cornerback Riq Woolen draped on him, Tonges leaped and came down with the catch, giving the visitors their first lead of the second half.
George Kittle had caught the 49ers’ opening touchdown but left the game early with a hamstring injury, thrusting Tonges into a larger role. The play proved decisive after San Francisco’s defense forced a turnover on the ensuing Seattle drive. Edge rusher Nick Bosa strip-sacked Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold at the 9-yard line with 42 seconds remaining, and the 49ers recovered to secure the win.
Purdy finished 26 of 35 for 277 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. His passing numbers were complemented by the presence of Christian McCaffrey, who returned to action and ran for 69 yards on 22 carries while adding nine receptions for 73 yards. Wide receiver Ricky Pearsall made a significant impact in the passing game with four catches for 108 yards, including a 45-yard reception from Purdy.
Tonges, who entered the NFL in 2022 with the Chicago Bears and had appeared in just 20 games before Sunday, recorded three catches in the contest, the last of which produced the go-ahead score. Kittle was pictured on the sideline celebrating his teammate’s pivotal play.
Darnold completed 16 of 23 passes for 150 yards as Seattle moved the ball at times, and rookie-to-second-year receiver Jaxson Smith-Njigba emerged as a primary target. Smith-Njigba was targeted 13 times and caught nine passes for 124 yards. Running back Zach Charbonnet scored Seattle’s only touchdown.
The 49ers’ victory on the road gives them an early season edge in the NFC West and underscored the importance of depth at tight end and on the edge. San Francisco’s secondary and pass rush combined in the closing minute to deny the Seahawks a late-game comeback and preserve a one-score win to open the 2025 campaign.
The 49ers will turn their attention to maintaining the health of their core offensive players after Kittle’s hamstring issue, while Seattle will look to build on the connection between Darnold and Smith-Njigba despite the late turnover. The teams will continue divisional play with the immediate aim of securing wins early in a competitive NFC West.