Despite helping keep the San Francisco 49ers’ Super Bowl hopes alive in the regular season, no one understandably knew what to expect from rookie/former seventh-round pick Brock Purdy in his playoff debut Saturday. But then 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan let Purdy’s deep passing game loose, the monstrous San Francisco defense flexed its muscles, and Purdy-Mania officially extended into the postseason during a 49ers’ 41-23 victory over the Seattle Seahawks.
I should probably place that into a better context.
After a relatively sparkling statistical performance — where the young Purdy completed 18-of-30 passes, threw for 332 yards, and three scores while running for another — he officially did something no NFL rookie has ever achieved in the league’s history. It doesn’t tell the whole story, as Purdy had his uneven moments, but it definitely wasn’t normal.
With his playoff line officially logged, Purdy became the first-ever rookie NFL quarterback to create four touchdowns in his first playoff game. Yes, seriously. That is not a typo. All those better players you’re thinking of right now?
They don’t have this kind of accomplishment under their belt:
Brock Purdy is the first rookie QB with 4 total touchdowns in a playoff game. #FTTB @49ers
— NFL Research (@NFLResearch) January 15, 2023
Oh, and Purdy’s 332 yards passing are the most by any 49ers quarterback in a postseason matchup since Joe Montana … in a Super Bowl. No big deal!
Brock Purdy's 332 yards passing are the most for a #49ers QB in the postseason since Joe Montana's 357 yards against the Bengals in Super Bowl XXIII.
— Matt Maiocco (@MaioccoNBCS) January 15, 2023
Make NFL history as the simultaneous quarterback of a legitimate Super Bowl contender, and you’ll probably want to celebrate with your people. That’s precisely what Purdy did as he met his family in the end zone after the 49ers advanced to the Divisional Round.
The Purdy family 🙌 @brockpurdy13 pic.twitter.com/sjVGrVGG4p
— NFL (@NFL) January 15, 2023
The 49ers will enter the next round as a presumed heavy favorite regardless of who their opponent is. They can thank Purdy for exceeding all individual expectations as he morphs into an early playoff sensation.
NFL fans celebrated Purdy after his stellar NFL rookie record playoff debut
For those of us who watched @brockpurdy13 at Iowa State this is no surprise.
— Sage Rosenfels (@SageRosenfels18) January 15, 2023
It can be true that Brock Purdy is in a historically good situation as a rookie AND that he’s doing something historically impressive. In fact not only can that be true, it IS true
— Mike Guardabascio (@Guardabascio) January 15, 2023
I still haven’t wrapped my brain around what we’re seeing from Brock Purdy.
— Rob Lowder (@Rob_Lowder) January 15, 2023
This Brock Purdy story is completely nuts.
— Dan Hanzus (@DanHanzus) January 15, 2023
Couldn’t be more proud watching @brockpurdy13 play. Glad the whole world gets to witness 🥹
— Chase Allen (@Dr_ChaseAllen) January 14, 2023
If the @Seahawks give @brockpurdy13 that much time that he can find wide open checkdowns, this thing will be over quick… have to force the issue on a young QB!
— Kurt Warner (@kurt13warner) January 14, 2023
BROCK. PURDY. 😱
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) January 14, 2023
Brock Purdy off schedule magic man
— Akash Anavarathan (@akashanav) January 14, 2023
