San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy may have suffered the final loss of the 2023 season, but the quarterback may have won the campaign in his own way.

Heading into the year, many doubted whether his first season’s brief run was legitimate. Fast forward to 2024 on the heels of a Super Bowl appearance, Purdy has received little but respect from writers around the NFL. Perhaps the latest feat noted by a writer was PFF writer Jim Wyman.

According to “The Cold Wire,” Wyman wrote in an NBC Sports article that the quarterback was statistically near perfect on deep passes over 20 yards.

“Brock Purdy’s deep ball earned him a 99.9 passing grade: On balls targeted 20 or more yards downfield, Purdy completed 30-of-53 passes for 956 yards, 11 touchdowns, and only one interception,” Wyman claimed.

One of the biggest needs but fewest granted aspects of a quarterback is the ability to hit deep passes consistently.

The difference between a backup quarterback and a starting quarterback is often their ability to hit passes beyond the first-down marker and whether or not it can be done consistently. Thus far in his young career, Brock Purdy has done that.

Brock Purdy pursues Jimmy Garoppolo and Colin Kaepernick-trumping season

At this point, the legacies between Purdy and former 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo have been closely linked.

Both Garoppolo and Purdy have reached a Super Bowl and lost late to Patrick Mahomes. Both have suffered injuries at unfortunate times.

However, the 2024 season offers Purdy the ability to arguably trump Garoppolo in terms of his accomplishments.

If Purdy can head into what likely will be his final season without a new extension and reach a Super Bowl, he will have passed two of the most accomplished 49ers quarterbacks of the last 15 years.

Purdy would be elevated into the tier below just Joe Montana in 49ers Super Bowl history with one more appearance. Montana went 4-0 in Super Bowls, so the true conversation is still several years away at a minimum. However, by reaching another Super Bowl, he would have as many appearances as Garoppolo and Colin Kaepernick have combined.

Of course, it would also be another notch on 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan’s belt as well. Shanahan would be in his fourth Super Bowl since the infamous 28-3 collapse at the hands of Tom Brady.

Will Brock Purdy’s deep ball be as deadly this season to make such a run easier?

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