Steve Young gets candid on why Brock Purdy is the answer at QB for 49ers

“Brock Purdy is starting for this team because the team chose him,” Young told the San Francisco Chronicle. "People say ‘Kyle Shanahan chose him. Or John Lynch.’ No, the team chose him. Because the team smells it. They want somebody that makes them feel the way he makes them feel."  

One of football's biggest fairytale stories last season, Purdy still has a ton to prove if he hopes to cement himself as a legitimate starter in the NFL. Nevertheless, the early returns from the Iowa State product were undoubtedly tantalizing. 

Logging meaningful snaps in six regular season games in 2022 (five starts), Purdy was dominant, throwing for 1,374 yards with 13 touchdowns to just four interceptions as a rookie. Over the final six weeks of the year with Purdy under center, the 49ers offense averaged 33.5 ppg — a 10.86 ppg increase from the 11 games prior. He continued his electric play in the postseason, throwing for 569 yards and three touchdowns before suffering a torn UCL ligament in his right elbow in the NFC Championship Game.

Maintaining similar production for a full 17-game stretch in 2023 would be a tall task for any quarterback. Thankfully for the 49ers sake, they don't need Purdy to be overly dominant to realize their title hopes. 

San Francisco's rush offense has ranked within the top eight in three of the last four seasons. With a healthy Christian McCaffrey and Elijah Mitchell in the backfield, the offense should continue to be run-heavy in 2023. If Purdy can simply manage the game, remain immune to turnovers and take advantage of what the defense gives him, the 49ers should be in the Super Bowl hunt come playoff time.