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Steve Young is impressed with what he has witnessed from San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy this season. Make no mistake, though, the Hall of Famer doesn't place the 49ers' second-year passer in the same category as dynamic playmakers like Lamar Jackson and Patrick Mahomes, who are set to face off in the AFC Championship Game.
Still, there is a place for a player like Purdy, who Young believes may be among the most efficient signal-callers in the game's history.
In a discussion about efficient quarterbacks with Rich Eisen on Monday, Young emphasized, "They still have a place, but they need a lot of help around them to be able to kind of go up against those guys."
Purdy certainly has a lot of help around him. The 49ers offense boasts playmakers like running back Christian McCaffrey, tight end George Kittle, and wide receivers Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel. Although, the latter's status for Sunday's NFC Championship Game showdown against the Detroit Lions remains up in the air.
Purdy recently achieved a new franchise record for the most passing yards in a single season, completing nearly 70 percent of his attempts for 4,280 yards, 31 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. His impressive 113.0 passer rating, 9.6 yards per attempt, and 13.9 yards per completion led the NFL.
"What he was able to do from an efficiency perspective, you might be able to make the case that there hasn't been a more efficient quarterback in the history of the game, in how he played this year," Young said. "For example, one of the stats that was the most amazing thing I've ever heard in my life is that the 49ers lead the league in yards per attempt if you just took the passes from the line of scrimmage and behind.
"Rich, those are 100 percent completion percentage almost. With zero risk or with very low risk, you're leading the league in yards per attempt against everybody else in the league."
Young also commended head coach Kyle Shanahan for his innovative approaches to attacking opposing defenses in open spaces.
While Purdy and the 49ers offense struggled in most of Sunday's playoff game against the Green Bay Packers, the second-year quarterback delivered when needed, orchestrating a 12-play, 69-yard game-winning touchdown drive in the closing minutes to lift the 49ers to their third consecutive NFC Championship Game.
"What happened? He became Mr. Efficient," Young stated. "The ball came out, they made the completions, they made the plays. He did everything that you would want a Super Bowl quarterback to do in the key moments. And he's young. It's amazing. There's going to be a movie about him. There's going to have to be a movie about him at some point. And I've interviewed him, and know him, and he's just a fascinating human being.
"And again, I think he's one of the best in the league, and he does it in his own Brock Purdy way. And I've said for over a year, let Brock cook. Give him a play, let him figure it out, and he will figure it out. He's got a special mind that can figure stuff out."
Steve Young: 49ers' best chance at a title may have passed
By David Bonilla
May 15
Steve Young believes the San Francisco 49ers may have missed their best opportunity for the organization's sixth Super Bowl victory. It was an uphill battle for the 49ers in the playoffs, requiring two comeback victories against perceived weaker opponents before suffering an overtime defeat in Las Vegas against the Kansas City Chiefs.
For various reasons, the Hall of Fame quarterback feels that it was head coach Kyle Shanahan's best opportunity to silence his critics and finally emerge victorious in the NFL title game.
Now, it's too early to predict how the 2024 season will unfold. The Niners could be just as competitive as last season. They might find themselves at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana, on Sunday, February 9, 2025, competing against
Steve Young on keeping the 49ers competitive after paying Brock Purdy
By David Bonilla
May 16
The San Francisco 49ers are gearing up to elevate quarterback Brock Purdy to their highest-paid player status starting next year. Negotiations for a contract extension with the young signal-caller, entering his third NFL season, are on the horizon.
Purdy's on-field performance has far exceeded his current salary. Last season, he set a single-season franchise record with 4,280 passing yards and led the 49ers to a Super Bowl appearance while earning a base salary of $870,000. Even for the upcoming season, his salary will only bump up to $985,000. That may sound like a lot to the ordinary person, but it is only a fraction of the team's salary cap.
However, Purdy's next contract is expected to catapult him into the ranks of the NFL's highest-paid players. That title
Watch: 49ers QB Brock Purdy throws out first pitch at Giants game
By David Bonilla
May 14
Fans had the opportunity to cheer for Brock Purdy tonight as the San Francisco 49ers quarterback threw out the ceremonial first pitch at Oracle Park, preceding the Giants' game against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
QB1 has arrived 🫡 pic.twitter.com/FDDdVS30p4— SF Giants on NBCS (@NBCSGiants) May 15,
Does 49ers QB Brock Purdy need Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel for success?
By David Bonilla
May 15
Rumors circulated before and during the 2024 NFL Draft about the possibility of the San Francisco 49ers losing one of their top two wide receivers—Brandon Aiyuk or Deebo Samuel. Such a scenario could have significantly impacted the team's success in the upcoming season and posed a potential blow for quarterback Brock Purdy, who has thrived alongside the dynamic duo on the field.
However, none of these speculations came to fruition. Both Aiyuk and Samuel remain on the roster, at least for another season, though their future beyond that remains uncertain.
Aiyuk is seeking a contract extension that would position him among the highest-paid wide receivers in the NFL. At the same time, Samuel already commands a significant salary following a deal rework in 2022.
