San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy, the final pick of the 2022 NFL Draft, has already proven he can play at an elite level. In 2023, he set a franchise record with 4,280 passing yards, surpassing legends like Steve Young and Jeff Garcia. Another iconic name he topped? Joe Montana, who was recently asked about the 49ers' current quarterback.
Purdy's performance dipped in 2024. He threw for 3,864 yards, 20 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions, finishing with a 96.1 passer rating—all worse than his previous season.
Injuries across the roster likely played a role in his regression. Despite the setbacks, Purdy is poised to become the highest-paid player in 49ers history and one of the highest-paid quarterbacks in the league. At just 25 years old, he still has plenty of room to grow.
"He's going to be fine," Montana told Ron Kroichick of the San Francisco Chronicle. "He makes great decisions. Someone probably needs to talk to him and settle him down. When you start forcing things, it's hard."
With key playmakers sidelined for much of the season, Purdy may have felt the pressure to do more. Ultimately, it wasn't enough. The 49ers struggled to a 6-11 record, finishing last in the NFC West and missing the playoffs for the first time since 2020.
"It seemed like Brock was feeling pressure to make plays because of the injuries," Montana added. "It's hard to see everything on TV, but sometimes I didn't even see receivers in the picture. To me, that's forcing it."
The 49ers hope for better health and a rebound season in 2025. With the return of stars like Christian McCaffrey and Brandon Aiyuk, along with the continued development of young talents like Ricky Pearsall, San Francisco is primed to get back on track and prove that this past season was a fluke, not the start of a trend for the proud franchise.