Brock Purdy’s credentials as a winning quarterback are undeniable. He’s 17-4 as a starter with the San Francisco 49ers to date.
But whether Purdy is an elite talent deserving of that record is another debate altogether. The former final pick of the 2022 NFL Draft is a high efficiency quarterback who can execute head coach Kyle Shanahan’s offense to a T. He minimizes mistakes and has found a way to thrive in a playbook that previously propped up Jimmy Garoppolo before him.
He also plays a little worse than stats suggest. For the fifth straight year, the Niners have led the league in yards after catch, padding his passing numbers behind big runs from playmakers like Deebo Samuel, Christian McCaffrey, Brandon Aiyuk and George Kittle. His solid interception rate hinges on the fact that many of his bad decisions and wounded ducks harmlessly fall to the turf off the hands of frustrated defensive backs.
And then there’s this. A play that, if you tried to explain it to a friend who hadn’t watched the game, would leave you laughed at and branded a liar. A pass that bounces off Detroit Lions cornerback Kindle Vildor’s face for a 51-yard gain.
AIYUK UNBELIEVABLE!
📺: #DETvsSF on FOX
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/gm8L5xwa9D— NFL (@NFL) January 29, 2024
So while a big chunk of the discourse online revolved around Aiyuk’s concentration, a large part of Twitter marveled at the fact that, yes, apparently Purdy *can* keep getting away with it.
Brock Purdy's INT luck made the same deal Mike Tomlin did for a winning record
— AJ Schulte (@AJSchulteFB) January 29, 2024
The haters won’t give Purdy any credit for that dart to Aiyuk
— Greg Ehrenberg (@gehrenbergdfs) January 29, 2024
the perfect brock purdy play
— Austin Gayle (@austingayle_) January 29, 2024
Brock Purdy is God’s favorite
— Derrik Klassen (@QBKlass) January 29, 2024
NFL defenders when Brock Purdy throws a pass that hits them directly in the hands for a potential interception pic.twitter.com/e3NtKyLkNS
— Rodger Sherman (@rodger) January 29, 2024
God to wrs when purdy throws the ball pic.twitter.com/sOSOPDSfbU
— Annie Agar (@AnnieAgar) January 29, 2024
The fact that ball is going to go down as a deep completion for Purdy is absolutely hilarious to me
— Brett Kollmann (@BrettKollmann) January 29, 2024
Purdy’s haters aren’t gonna give him any credit for bouncing a deep ball off of somebody’s face for his guy to make a play
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) January 29, 2024
BROCK PURDY CANNOT KEEP GETTING AWAY WITH THIS
— victoria zeller (@dirtbagqueer) January 29, 2024
Brandon Aiyuk caught this ball https://t.co/AdmGISm6Um pic.twitter.com/hsvy9frihA
— The 33rd Team (@The33rdTeamFB) January 29, 2024
That’s the kind of catch that normally beats the patriots in a Super Bowl.
— Andy Nesbitt (@anezbitt) January 29, 2024
you still can't convince me that Brock Purdy isn't Jameis Winston in a Shanahan offense (which is maybe the nicest thing I've said about him)
— Timo Riske (@PFF_Moo) January 29, 2024
The Football Gods are actively trying to create the most toxic Brock Purdy discourse imaginable.
— David Helman (@davidhelman_) January 29, 2024
If you turn the AI interceptions slider down to 0 they will still drop less interceptions than Purdy gets dropped.
— win forever another day (@wrongopinionman) January 29, 2024
Brock purdy is so good he can hit the other team in the helmet and still complete the pass pic.twitter.com/kNq9gsvMAi
— Mark Jackson’s Burner (@casualtakeking) January 29, 2024
