SANTA CLARA — Two-hundred and sixty-one players were picked before the 49ers selected Brock Purdy with the final slot of the 2022 NFL Draft earlier this year.
Tom Brady can appreciate a late-drafted QB underdog story, but he probably didn’t like being on the wrong end of history on Sunday. The reigning Mr. Irrelevant, Purdy, played the role of David, taking down Brady, football’s Goliath. Inconceivably, Purdy outdueled Brady and led the Niners to a 35-7 shellacking that few could have seen coming before the game.
Back in 2000, Brady went 199th overall as a sixth-round pick out of Michigan following his stellar career at Serra High School in San Mateo. This wasn’t a good homecoming. At the ripe age of 45, Brady suffered one of the worst defeats of his inimitable career. The 28-point defeat was the third-worst of his career, a total of 366 regular-season games.
This wasn’t a bizarro world. Brock really outdueled Brady. Mr. Irrelevant outdid the GOAT in his first NFL start.
"He's pretty f--king relevant right now," 49ers left guard Aaron Banks said. "Brock, in the huddle, he takes control of the huddle. He's not afraid to tell anybody to shut up or lock in. He does a really good job of being a pro. He's not for play, play. He's here to win and you saw it tonight -- some of those deep throws that he's throwing and the way he's scrambling out of pressure. He's a good player, bro. Call him Mr. Irrelevant if you want, but he's pretty damn relevant to me."
After the game, Purdy stopped for a quick postgame dap and chat with Brady. The rookie wasn't even four months old when Brady got drafted by the Patriots in 2000, so it was a bit wild to be sharing that moment with the football icon.
“It was surreal just standing there like, man, that’s Tom Brady talking to guys and dapping guys up," Purdy said. "For him to have respect for what I did today was pretty cool, not gonna lie. I've been a little kid watching that guy throughout all these years, winning Super Bowls. To be able to give him a high five or whatever at the end, it was pretty cool."
Purdy also found the time to share a moment with his family in the stands after the game, while Shanahan stopped by for a quick chat at his locker while reporters were in the room.
The Niners have talked up Purdy’s decision-making, as he made his first start following Jimmy Garoppolo’s foot injury last week. Purdy showed he’s not afraid to take chances, as he finished 16-of-21 for 185 yards with two throwing touchdowns – a 27-yard toss to Christian McCaffrey and a 32-yard connection with Brandon Aiyuk. Both times, Purdy unleashed a throw that Jimmy G might hesitate to make.
Purdy even showed off his legs, scrambling on a few occasions to extend plays and adding a two-yard rushing score on the first play in the second quarter. The Niners led 35-0 at one point early in the third, after McCaffrey scampered 38 yards for a touchdown.
"Brock's a very serious professional," veteran right tackle Mike McGlinchey said. "He's been a pro's pro. As mature as a young quarterback as I've ever seen."
Meanwhile, the Niners defense made life hell for Brady and Co. They picked him off twice and held him to 34-of-55 passing for 253 yards with a touchdown. After his second pick, when linebacker Dre Greenlaw batted the ball in the air and bounced it to himself, Brady could only lie on the ground and look skyward in despair.
It’s not often (or, ever?) you see a third-string rookie quarterback bring Brady to his mercy. Despite serious injuries to Trey Lance and Jimmy Garoppolo this season, the Niners are still humming. Remarkably, the 49ers have won six straight games, rattling off their longest win streak of the Shanahan era since starting off 8-0 in 2019.
Eventually, with the Niners up by 28 in the final period, veteran backup Josh Johnson took over for mop-up duty. Purdy became the fifth rookie quarterback to ever outduel Brady, joining Ben Roethlisberger (2004), Mark Sanchez (2009), Colt McCoy (2010) and Geno Smith (2013).
The 22-year-old got a rude welcome to the game, getting flattened by Bucs safety Keanu Neal on the first play for a sack that was reversed by a roughing the passer call. After the game, 49ers tight end George Kittle joked about Purdy's 'Welcome-to-the-league' moment.
"First play of the game, what a play by him, just a 15-yard explosive by himself," Kittle said. "You gotta love that outta Purdy. That was totally planned. But, no, he's so mobile, he runs really well. He sees it. ... He's ready for it. Even though he's a rookie, the game's not too big for him. He understands there is pressure, but he's just going out there and having fun."
About the only thing that went wrong for the Niners were injuries, as wide receiver Deebo Samuel, defensive tackles Kevin Givens and Kerry Hyder Jr., cornerbacks Dontae Johnson, Deommodore Lenoir and Samuel Womack all got dinged up. Purdy also suffered an oblique injury that will have to be monitored during the short week, but the 49ers said it wasn't enough to lead to his exit. That was a scoreboard move with about eight minutes left in the game.
Purdy and the Niners can clinch the NFC West title in just a matter of days, as they face the Seattle Seahawks on the road Thursday night. After the game, Kittle pointed at McCaffrey next to him in the locker room and said the Carolina Panthers -- McCaffrey's ex-team -- beat Seattle "for the boys."
