Brock Purdy’s outing against the Eagles on Sunday in Week 13 marked his 17th regular season start as a pro. His ability to pick up in 2023 where he left off in 2022 has been a key reason San Francisco got out to a fast start and now sits one game off the pace for the No. 1 seed with five weeks to go.
Purdy hasn’t just produced at a level good enough to help the 49ers win games though. He’s helped them dominate, and his numbers show it. In fact, his numbers would mark perhaps the best statistical season by a QB in 49ers team history.
Through 17 games Purdy is 14-3 as a starter. Here are his numbers:
69.7 percent completion rate
4,283 passing yards
34 touchdown passes
8 interceptions
9.4 yards per attempt
116.9 passer rating
Let’s see where each of those numbers stacks up against other great QB seasons in 49ers history:
Completion rate
Purdy: 69.7 percent
49ers record: 70.3 percent (Steve Young, 1994)
Passing yards
Purdy: 4,283
49ers record: 4,278 (Jeff Garcia, 2000)
There’s a real chance Purdy actually breaks Garcia’s franchise single-season record with a full slate of starts in 2023. His first 17 starts also eclipsed Garcia’s mark.
Touchdown passes
Purdy: 34
49ers record: 36 (Steve Young, 1998)
Young also posted 35 TD passes in 1994 when he set the franchise record for completion rate. Purdy falls a couple short, but the 34 are still impressive given how run-heavy the 49ers can be.
Interceptions
Purdy: 8
49ers record: 5 (Alex Smith, 2011)
While Smith’s five interceptions are extremely impressive, he tossed only 17 TD passes in the 2011 season. Young had a seven-interception season in 1992, and then Colin Kaepernick posted just eight INTs against 21 touchdowns in 2013.
Yards per attempt
Purdy: 9.4
49ers record: 8.7 (Steve Young, 1993)
Young’s 1992-94 seasons are responsible for the three highest YPA totals in team history. His 8.7 YPA in 1993 is the best mark for a 49ers QB over a full season, and Purdy’s 9.4 across his first full season of starts blows that number out of the water.
Passer rating
Purdy: 116.1
49ers record: 112.8 (Steve Young, 1994)
A quick takeaway here is that Young’s 1994 MVP season was absurd. The 49ers also won the Super Bowl that year. Purdy had arguably better production across his first 17 starts though, which is a testament to just how remarkable he’s been to begin his career.
