Brock Purdy’s offseason work is translating into one of the NFL’s sharpest starts through two weeks, with the San Francisco 49ers quarterback pairing near-flawless efficiency with a growing command of Kyle Shanahan’s offense.
Purdy said late in training camp that he believed he had produced his strongest camp yet. After dominant victories over the Los Angeles Rams and Miami Dolphins, the early evidence supports that assessment.
The fifth-year quarterback leads the league in Total QBR at 95.0, completion rate at 80.4% and completion percentage above expectation at 11.1%. He has not recorded an off-target throw or taken a sack this season.
Quick facts
- Purdy has posted a league-leading 95.0 Total QBR through two games.
- He is 91 pass attempts from 1,500 career regular-season throws, a threshold at which he could own the best career passer rating among qualified quarterbacks.
- San Francisco will face Denver in Week 4 and Seattle in Week 5.
- Ricky Pearsall and Jake Tonges are out for the season following right knee injuries.
- De’Zhaun Stribling is projected to miss 10 weeks after left ankle surgery, while Demarcus Robinson is expected out three to six weeks with a high right ankle sprain.
Purdy’s opening stretch has also added to an already remarkable statistical resume. He has now registered 13 games with a passer rating of at least 130 and eight at 140 or better, the most by any quarterback during his first five NFL seasons.
He has made 1,409 regular-season passing attempts. Once he reaches 1,500, he is positioned to take over the career passer-rating lead among qualifying passers.
Running back Christian McCaffrey called Purdy “special,” pointing to the quarterback’s decisiveness, timing and ability to create when a play breaks down. McCaffrey said the offense feels secure with Purdy directing it.
Purdy’s offseason tape review centered on fundamental improvements rather than wholesale changes. The coaching staff wanted him to get off long-developing reads sooner, use his mobility more effectively and recognize when an aggressive downfield throw was available without forcing one.
“It’s my fifth year and I feel confident with the plays and everything,” Purdy said. “I look back at that Super Bowl year and think I still could have been better. I made plays, but with footwork, eyes and throwing aggressively, there were areas to improve. I’ve really focused on that.”
Fred Warner saw those gains firsthand during camp practices against the starting offense. The All-Pro linebacker said Purdy appears to process the game more slowly, manipulate opponents with cadence and motion, recognize coverage variations and still make plays with his athleticism when structure disappears.
“Those small details that make a great quarterback in this league, he does them at a high level,” Warner said.
Shanahan said Purdy’s camp stood out because he was willing to be aggressive without becoming careless. The coach believes experience has helped Purdy recognize defensive looks more naturally, even though the quarterback played at a high level from the start of his career.
Purdy is five starts from passing Jimmy Garoppolo’s record of 63 quarterback starts under Shanahan. He already has more starts in the coach’s system than Matt Ryan, Robert Griffin III and Matt Schaub.
Ryan’s 2016 MVP season remains the high-water mark for a Shanahan quarterback, when he led the NFL with a 79.6 QBR while finishing with 4,944 passing yards and 38 touchdown passes. Purdy’s familiarity with Shanahan has given him a deeper understanding of why calls are made and how to adjust when defenses disrupt the intended look.
That connection showed against the Rams. Los Angeles frequently stayed in sub-packages and worked to deny explosive plays, so Purdy largely took what the defense allowed.
Late in the second quarter, however, he recognized a rare opening. On second-and-6 from the Rams’ 39-yard line, Purdy initially had Mike Evans, Luke Farrell and Kaelon Black as the primary side of the progression, while Robinson had a deep route from the opposite side.
After seeing the Rams’ defenders follow their zone-match responsibilities and safety Kamren Kinchens move toward the line, Purdy came off the initial reads and attacked deep. His 39-yard touchdown to Robinson gave San Francisco a lead it never surrendered.
Fullback Kyle Juszczyk praised Purdy for recognizing a look that might emerge only rarely and still having the confidence to drive the ball downfield.
Purdy attempted only six passes of 10 or more air yards in the Rams game. Against Miami, he went 10-for-10 on throws traveling at least that distance, totaling 211 yards and a touchdown.
He also used his legs in the Miami win, scoring a rushing touchdown and gaining 30 yards. Purdy became the first player in NFL history to complete at least 90% of his passes while throwing for at least 285 yards, producing two passing touchdowns and adding a rushing score in the same game.
The contrast between the two games reflects Purdy’s ability to adapt to what a defense presents rather than chase a preferred style of attack. Warner has already raised the possibility of an MVP-caliber season, though San Francisco’s upcoming schedule will provide a tougher measuring stick.
Denver and Seattle await in Weeks 4 and 5. Seattle could present the larger obstacle after holding the 49ers to nine points and 204.5 yards per game across the teams’ final two meetings last season.
The challenge is amplified by San Francisco’s depleted pass-catching group. Pearsall, Stribling, Christian Kirk and Robinson have either missed time or are set to miss part of the season, with Pearsall and Tonges lost for the year.
Purdy has dealt with roster instability before, including during the 2025 season, when he showed he could raise the level of an undermanned offense. He remains confident that his partnership with Shanahan can carry the 49ers through the next stretch.
“I’m excited to do some cool things with the games coming up and the opportunities we have together,” Purdy said. “I feel like I’ve improved. He’s a great coach, and I feel like our best football is still ahead of us.”
