SANTA CLARA – Brock Purdy owns four playoff wins since assuming the 49ers’ quarterback throne in 2022.
That dwarfs the opposing quarterbacks lined up on this season’s schedule.
Of those 14 quarterbacks slated to start Week 1, they’ve combined for just six playoff wins since 2022, and none with more than C.J. Stroud’s two wild-card victories for Houston.
So much for a Murderers’ Row of touchdown-throwing assassins.
Instead, the 49ers get an all-you-can-eat Sunday brunch for their young, hungry, and unproven defense.
They’ll avoid the NFL’s most recent MVPs: Buffalo’s Josh Allen, Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson, Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes, and (*checks notes*) Pittsburgh’s Aaron Rodgers.
Allen, Jackson, and Mahomes may be the NFL’s best under-30 throwers, along with Cincinnati’s Joe Burrow, Philadelphia’s Jalen Hurts, and Washington’s Jayden Daniels, none of whom are on the schedule, barring a playoff encounter or Super Bowl LX showdown at Levi’s Stadium on Feb. 8.
Overlooked amid the NFL’s myriad roster moves this past week was the fact all 32 teams have their starting quarterback named. Some may change by the time the 49ers get to them, but a Super Bowl threat is not coming off anyone’s bench.
The New Orleans Saints were last to name their QB1, giving Spencer Rattler another shot in Year 2 after going 0-6 as a rookie starter. That’s who the 49ers will visit in Week 2, after they open Sept. 7 at Seattle against 2023 49ers backup QB Sam Darnold.
Darnold. Rattler. Neither has a playoff win, nor do most quarterbacks on the 49ers’ schedule.
Of the Super Bowl-winning quarterbacks on the agenda, there areJoe Flacco (Cleveland Browns, age 40), Matthew Stafford (Los Angeles Rams, age 37) and Russell Wilson (New York Giants, age 36).
Each of that trio defeated the 49ers en route to their lone Lombardi Trophy. Flacco hasn’t won a playoff game in a decade. Wilson’s lost five of his last six playoff appearances, the lone win coming five years ago. And Stafford’s 5-5 career playoff record includes a 4-0 mark from his 2021 Rams onboarding.
The only other Week 1 starters with a playoff win to their name: Houston’s Stroud (2-2), Indianapolis’ Daniel Jones (1-1), Jacksonville’s Trevor Lawrence (1-1) and Tampa Bay’s Baker Mayfield (2-3). Darnold and Arizona’s Kyler Murray are 0-1, for NFC West’s sake.
Where have all the Tom Bradys, Peyton Mannings, Drew Breeses, Ben Roethlisbergers and Matt Ryans gone? Retirement. Or the broadcast booth and/or ownership suite.
One more thing, and it’s no small matter: The 49ers must get past all these quarterbacks through the next 18 weeks if Purdy is to make his third postseason trip in four years. There is that, and the fact the 49ers have the easiest regular-season schedule (opponents had a .415 winning percentage in 2024).
Related Articles
Why Marques Sigle could be the 49ers’ biggest early-impact rookie
49ers bring back defensive tackle Evan Anderson to practice squad
Best division in football? Breaking down how the 49ers stack up against their NFC West rivals
San Jose focusing on resident, fan experiences with Super Bowl, March Madness and World Cup approaching
Cowboys trade Micah Parsons to Packers as 49ers rivals complete blockbuster deal
Here is a week-by-week breakdown of the 49ers opponents’ starting quarterback (and QB2):
WEEK 1 at Seattle
Sam Darnold
(Drew Lock)
WEEK 2 at New Orleans
Spencer Rattler
(Tyler Shough)
WEEK 3 vs. Arizona
Kyler Murray
(Jacoby Brissett)
WEEK 4 vs. Jacksonville
Trevor Lawrence
(Nick Mullens)
WEEK 5 at L.A. Rams
Matthew Stafford
(Jimmy Garoppolo)
WEEK 6 at Tampa Bay
Baker Mayfield
(Teddy Bridgewater)
WEEK 7 vs. Atlanta
Michael Penix Jr.
(Kirk Cousins)
WEEK 8 at Houston
C.J. Stroud
(Davis Mills)
WEEK 9 at N.Y. Giants
Russell Wilson
(Jaxson Dart)
WEEK 10 vs. L.A. Rams
Stafford
(Garoppolo)
WEEK 11 at Arizona
Murray
(Brissett)
WEEK 12 vs. Carolina
Bryce Young
(Andy Dalton)
WEEK 13 at Cleveland
Joe Flacco
(Dillon Gabriel)
WEEK 14 bye
WEEK 15 vs. Tennessee
Cam Ward
(Brandon Allen)
WEEK 16 at Indianapolis
Daniel Jones
(Anthony Richardson)
WEEK 17 vs. Chicago
Caleb Williams
(Tyson Bagent)
WEEK 18 vs. Seattle
Darnold
(Lock)