One of the most talked about quarterbacks over the past two seasons has been San Francisco 49ers’ Brock Purdy. The last overall pick in the 2022 draft, Purdy shot up to the NFL limelight when he stepped in as the 49ers starting quarterback team in 2022 when Jimmy Garoppolo went down in the middle of the season. The Super Bowl-hopeful 49ers did not miss a beat when the then-unknown Purdy took over.

Purdy led the 49ers to the NFC Championship Game before he sustained the first major challenge of his career when he tore his UCL. After recovering from that injury, Purdy came out even stronger in year two.

He got the 49ers off to a 5-0 start, was a top MVP candidate for much of the year, led the NFL in yards per attempt and passer rating, and took the 49ers to the Super Bowl, where they fell to the Kansas City Chiefs.

Despite the unexpected success he’s had over the past two seasons, Purdy has received a bulk of criticism. Many have said he’s only done well because of the 49ers scheme, talent, and Kyle Shanahan.

These opinions have no sway on the 49ers though, who only hold praise for Purdy and what he’s accomplished. In a recent interview with NFL Network’s Steve Wyche, Shanahan emphasized how great Purdy has been, and that this year is his first real offseason since getting drafted.

“[Brock’s] been unbelievable,” Shanahan told Wyche. “He’s done it week in and week out. He’s come back from a really tough injury in his first year. Had a hell of a year this year. Really hasn’t had an offseason yet with us. The first offseason he was battling to be our third string quarterback and make the team. Last year in the offseason he didn’t get to throw until training camp … I’m pumped to coach him.”

Almost every QB selected before Brock Purdy and many after him the last two seasons has been traded, demoted and certainly hasn’t reached the Super Bowl. 49ers Coach Kyle Shanahan goes into that and more in our conversation from the NFL Annual Meeting. pic.twitter.com/AmGvaoKSx3

— Steve Wyche (@wyche89) March 27, 2024

In his sophomore season, Purdy led a 49ers team that finished 12-5 and with the NFC’s No. 1 seed. He threw for 4,280 yards, 31 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions on a 49ers team that finished top-five in total yards, passing yards, rushing yards, and points per game for the first time under Kyle Shanahan.

Regardless of the critics, Purdy’s career is just getting started. And it’s already off to a pretty darn good start. Though he was unable to lead the 49ers to a Super Bowl win this past year, he’s still a young quarterback with plenty of time to continue to develop and improve.