C.J. West, 49ers’ defensive tackle, on major sacking: “It’s just legendary”

For C.J. West, Monday night in Indianapolis was never going to feel like just another game.

Go West, stop Rivers

The San Francisco 49ers defensive tackle was playing back where he grew up, on a national stage, and he made sure it counted. West recorded the first sack of his NFL career by taking down Philip Rivers, a quarterback widely expected to end up in Canton.

“It means a lot because I put in so much hard work,” West said in a postgame interview with Briana Jeannel on the Lexus set. “Just to be able to show the world what I really can do and to be able to sack a future Hall of Famer, man, it’s just legendary.”

West also admitted the setting amplified the moment. “I gotta dub back at Indy,” he said. “This place has a special place in my heart, so being able to play in front of the hometown people means a lot to me for sure.”

49ers: target Rivers, let Purdy play

The sack was part of a broader defensive plan that paid off in a dominant 48–27 win. West explained the 49ers emphasized getting into Rivers’ face early and often, forcing him to speed up his process. Even with Rivers throwing for 277 yards and two touchdowns at age 44, San Francisco’s pressure ultimately tilted the game.

On offense, Brock Purdy delivered a top performance, throwing a career-high five touchdown passes. Christian McCaffrey totaled 146 yards from scrimmage and scored three times, while George Kittle topped 100 receiving yards.

The win pushed the 49ers to 11–4, their fifth straight, and kept them firmly in the NFC’s top-seed race. For West, though, the night will always be remembered for something simpler: hard work, home pride, and a “legendary” first sack.

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