Jauan Jennings Painfully Summed Up 49ers' Loss With Brutal One-Liner

Jennings was on his way to a likely Super Bowl MVP award.

Losing Super Bowl LVIII was painful enough for the San Francisco 49ers and receiver Jauan Jennings. Yet not only did the Niners lose to the Kansas City Chiefs in overtime, 25–22, but if they had won, Jennings probably would have been awarded Super Bowl MVP. 

Jennings became one of only two players to catch a touchdown pass and throw one in the same Super Bowl game. He caught four passes for 42 yards and threw for 21 yards with a championship at stake. 

Afterward, the third-year receiver was asked how much a close loss in the biggest game of the season hurt. Typically, such questions get unsurprising answers. Losing a championship is agonizing. It hurts because such opportunities don’t come easily. 

However, Jennings provided a painfully honest response to describe how he felt.

“Oh, man. Anybody got a nail he can step on?” said Jennings. “Probably about that much.” 

A reporter asked Jauan Jennings how much this Super Bowl loss hurt

“Anybody got a nail he can step on? Probably about that much.” pic.twitter.com/FzAMoeVgXK

— KNBR (@KNBR) February 12, 2024

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Jennings is not a star player for the 49ers. Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel are the team’s top receivers, in addition to tight end George Kittle. Jennings was San Francisco’s fifth-leading pass catcher this season, notching 19 receptions. His best value to the offense is as a run blocker.

Yet Jennings nearly joined a list of unlikely Super Bowl heroes including David Tyree, Timmy Smith, Desmond Howard and Larry Brown with his performance. That he came so close, only to have it taken away, must have felt like… well, Jennings vividly described it himself