Get to know 49ers QB Brock Purdy, who is expected to start vs. Tom Brady and Buccaneers in Week 14
... Purdy, 22, was 2022's Mr. Irrelevant — the final pick of the NFL draft. After coming into Sunday's game against the Miami Dolphins for Garoppolo and leading the Niners to a 33–17 win, he's not irrelevant anymore....
Purdy can ball
Purdy started as quarterback for Perry High School in Arizona, and put up such great numbers in his senior year that recruiters couldn't help but pay attention. Over the 2017-2018 season, Purdy completed 238 of 368 passes for 4,410 yards and 57 touchdowns, and found success with his legs as well, rushing for 1,016 yards with 10 touchdowns. That performance earned him the Arizona Gatorade Player of the Year award.
Purdy, a three-star recruit, received offers from Alabama, Texas A&M, Illinois and UCF, but chose Iowa State. He was the Cyclones' starter for nearly all four years, and racked up an impressive number of school records (over 30), including winningest QB in program history, most passing yards, most completions, highest completion percent and most touchdowns. In 2022, he also won the Big 12 Sportsman of the Year award.
... He came in extremely early as Garoppolo was hurt in the Niners' first offensive drive of the game. Purdy not only had to lead the offense, but had to handle a game plan that was constantly changing. And he managed to do both. He completed 25 of 37 passes for 210 yards and two touchdowns, with one interception....
He could make Mr. Irrelevant history against Tom Brady, Bucs
Through the decades of the NFL draft, only six quarterbacks (including Purdy) have been chosen with the final pick. When Purdy completed his first of four passes in that Week 7 loss, he became the first Mr. Irrelevant to complete a forward pass in a regular-season game. When he connected with Kyle Juszczyk on a 3-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter on Sunday, he became the first Mr. Irrelevant quarterback to throw a TD pass.
Purdy is slated to make his first career start against the Bucs next week, and when he does, he'll be the first Mr. Irrelevant to start a regular-season game at quarterback. Tom Brady, who himself wasn't the highest of draft picks (199th overall), will be making his 330th career start. Following Sunday's game, Purdy told the media that he's thrilled to be facing the GOAT.
"Yeah, I think it's cool," Purdy said. "I think it's really cool. Dude has been playing (NFL) football longer than I've been alive. So yeah, to have a first start against the GOAT, it's going to be pretty cool. But just any other game, man, it's got to be efficient, do my thing and play football."