You remember the Brady game. December 11, 2022. The 49ers were down to their third quarterback, a rookie nobody had planned on starting, and Tom Brady was on the other sideline with Tampa Bay. The rookie won 35 to 7. He is still the only quarterback ever to beat a Brady-led team in his first start.
His name was Brock Purdy. Eight months earlier, he had been the very last name called in the NFL draft.
Pick 262
April 30, 2022. The final pick of the draft belonged to San Francisco. General manager John Lynch got Purdy on the phone and, before anything else, apologized for making him wait. We find you very relevant, Lynch told him. But he was still going to be Mr. Irrelevant, the title the league gives the last player taken. Pick No. 262. There was no one after him.
That summer he went to Newport Beach for Irrelevant Week, the tradition for the last pick: Disneyland, a golf tournament, a roast, and a trophy called the Lowsman. Then he reported to San Francisco as QB3, behind Trey Lance and Jimmy Garoppolo.
"I got drafted last. You know, I didn't really know what my future looked like or anything."
Brock Purdy, to NPR, February 2024
Nobody's first call
Getting overlooked was nothing new for him. Purdy was born in Queen Creek, Arizona, and played at Perry High School in Gilbert. He took Perry to the state championship game as a junior and again as a senior. Both times, Chandler beat them.
Going into his senior year, the only scholarship offers he had came from Northern Arizona, New Mexico State and UNLV. Arizona State, a short drive away, never offered. Then, after his last state title game, the phone started ringing. Boise State. Kansas. And in January, UCF, Iowa State, Colorado State, Illinois, Texas A&M and even Alabama.
Iowa State coach Matt Campbell had asked his staff one simple question: who's the best quarterback that has not signed? In February 2018, Purdy picked the Cyclones over Texas A&M. By the time he left, he owned 32 school records and a Fiesta Bowl win over Oregon.
QB3
In San Francisco, nobody was planning on the third-stringer. Then Lance broke his ankle in Week 2. Garoppolo hurt his foot in Week 13. That is how the last pick in the draft ended up starting against Tom Brady, and you already know how that went.
He did not lose a regular season start that year. He won two playoff games and had the Niners in the NFC Championship at Philadelphia in January 2023. That is where it turned. He hurt his right elbow, and the MRI showed a complete tear of the ligament. San Francisco lost 31 to 7, and Purdy went into the offseason needing surgery.
Down 24 to 7
He came back and started 16 games in 2023. He led the league with a 113.0 passer rating and made the Pro Bowl. Then came the NFC Championship against Detroit. The Lions were up 24 to 7 at halftime. The 49ers won 34 to 31.
On February 11, 2024, in Las Vegas, he started Super Bowl LVIII against Kansas City. No Mr. Irrelevant had ever started a Super Bowl. Twenty-one months after Lynch apologized for the wait, there he was. It went to overtime, and the Chiefs won 25 to 22.
A month later, on March 9, 2024, he married Jenna Brandt.
Now the money. Through his first three seasons, the quarterback who took the Niners to a Super Bowl made less than $1 million a year. In May 2025 the 49ers signed him to a five-year, $265 million extension, with $181 million in total guarantees.
"Shame on everyone for waiting so long, including us."
John Lynch, 49ers general manager, to NPR, February 2024
The toe
The first season under the new deal went sideways in Week 1. He beat Seattle in the opener and walked out of it with turf toe. He tried to come back in Week 4, hurt it again, and missed six more games. Eight games in all, on the sideline.
When he returned in Week 11, the Niners went 6 and 1 the rest of the way. In the playoffs they went back to Philadelphia, the place where his elbow gave out three years earlier, and won 23 to 19. Then, on January 17, 2026, they went to Seattle and lost 41 to 6. He has said the time on the sideline helped him see the big picture.
"But when I did come back, it was like the chip's back on the shoulder, man."
Brock Purdy, February 2026
Six and oh
The chip came with him into this season. In Week 2 against Miami he completed 20 of 22 passes for 287 yards and was named NFC Offensive Player of the Week. He threw at least two touchdown passes in each of the first five games.
On Monday Night Football, October 19, 2026, against Washington: 21 of 29, 264 yards, a touchdown, and a 23 to 17 win. San Francisco is 6 and 0.
Four and a half years ago, a general manager called to say sorry for making him wait. The last pick of 2022 is still the one taking the snaps.
GAMECHANGER™Reporting draws on the Associated Press, NPR, CBS Sports, CBS News, NBC Sports Bay Area, Sports Illustrated, 49ers.com, FOX Sports, Sports360AZ, Saturday Blitz, the NFL and Wikipedia's documented record of his career.
Sources (13)
NBC Sports Bay Area: Lynch's draft call to Purdy · NFL (YouTube): "Mr. Irrelevant" is Brock Purdy, 2022 NFL Draft · NPR: Purdy and Lynch on the road from last pick to the Super Bowl · CBS Sports: Purdy first Mr. Irrelevant QB to start in Super Bowl · Associated Press via MyNorthwest: Purdy goes from Mr. Irrelevant to brink of Super Bowl · Sports Illustrated: Purdy's recruitment, from ASU's pass to Alabama's offer · Sports360AZ: Early signing day's impact on Purdy's recruitment · Saturday Blitz: Iowa State beats Texas A&M for Brock Purdy · Associated Press via KCRG: Purdy agrees to five-year, $265 million extension · NBC Sports Bay Area: Purdy says toe injury helped him see the big picture · CBS News Sacramento: Seahawks beat 49ers 41-6 in divisional round · 49ers.com: Five things to know, Week 6 vs. Commanders · FOX Sports: Commanders vs. 49ers box score, Oct. 19, 2026