BIOGRAPHY
Brock Purdy was born December 27, 1999, in Queen Creek, Arizona. He is a quarterback in the NFL.
He entered his freshman year at Iowa State in 2018 as the third-string to Kyle Kempt and Zeb Noland. He became the starter after Kempt was injured and Noland was ineffective. Overall he started eight games, completing 146 of 220 passes for 2,250 yards, 16 touchdowns, and seven interceptions. He also rushed for 308 yards and five touchdowns. He returned as the starter in 2019.
Purdy was selected with the final pick (262nd overall) of the 2022 NFL Draft, making him that year's Mr. Irrelevant.
Trey Lance was named the starter over Jimmy Garoppolo for the 2022 season, making Purdy the third string quarterback, but Lance appeared in only two games before suffering a season-ending ankle injury against the Seattle Seahawks in Week two. On October 23, 2022, Purdy relieved Garoppolo on the 49ers' last drive in the 4th quarter against the Kansas City Chiefs, throwing for 66 yards and an interception in the 44–23 loss.
On December 4, 2022, in the first quarter of the 49ers' Week 13 matchup against the Miami Dolphins, Garoppolo also suffered a foot injury, causing the 49ers to call upon Purdy once again. Purdy performed efficiently, and finished the game completing 25-of-37 passes for 210 yards, two touchdowns—one to running back Christian McCaffrey and one to fullback Kyle Juszczyk—and one interception in a 33–17 win. Purdy became the first 'Mr. Irrelevant' to throw a touchdown pass in a regular season game. Following Garoppolo's injury, Purdy was named the 49ers' starting quarterback for the remainder of the 2022 season.
On December 11, 2022, Purdy became the only quarterback in his first career start to beat a team led by Tom Brady, when the 49ers defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 35–7. Purdy finished the game with 185 passing yards and two passing touchdowns, along with a 2-yard rushing touchdown. After the game, the 49ers sent out a tweet dubbing Purdy "Mr. Relevant", a reference to Purdy having been drafted as "Mr. Irrelevant" as the last pick taken in the 2022 NFL Draft, followed by his sudden jump to relevance in the 49ers' season.
In the following game against the Seattle Seahawks, Purdy and the 49ers won the matchup and the NFC West division by a score of 21–13. He had 17-for-26 passing with 217 yards and two touchdowns, both to George Kittle, in the win. Purdy became the second player in NFL history, after Aaron Rodgers, to record a cumulative quarterback rating of 115 or greater in his first two starts. Next, during Week 16 against the Washington Commanders, Purdy finished with 234 passing yards, two touchdowns, and an interception as the 49ers won 37–20. In a Week 17 matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders, Purdy led the 49ers to a 37–34 overtime victory. He finished the game with 284 passing yards, two passing touchdowns, and one interception. On January 12, 2023, the NFL named Purdy as the NFC's Rookie of the Month for December and January.
Purdy finished the regular season throwing for 1,374 yards for thirteen touchdowns and four interceptions, winning all five of his starts and leading the 49ers to the second seed in the playoffs. Purdy's passer rating of 119.4 through his five starts were the highest for a quarterback in his first five starts since Kurt Warner in 1999.
In the 49ers' Wild Card game on January 14, 2023, against the Seattle Seahawks, Purdy became the first 49ers rookie quarterback to start and win a playoff game, while putting him 6–0 in career starts. In the game, he completed 18-of-30 passes for 332 yards and scored four total touchdowns, the most by a rookie quarterback in a playoff game.
