Brock Purdy sets NFL all-time passer rating record on Monday Night Football
Web StoryWatch this story in 15 seconds →Key takeaways
- Brock Purdy became the NFL's all-time leader in career passer rating. It happened on Monday night, per the league's official stats.
- His fifth pass against the Commanders was his 1,500th career attempt. That pass qualified him for the record books.
- The 49ers are 5-0. Purdy is now a top contender for the NFL MVP award.
Brock Purdy made NFL history on Monday night. The 49ers quarterback threw his 1,500th career pass against the Washington Commanders.
That pass made him the all-time leader in career passer rating. He is now ahead of every quarterback who ever played.
What happened
The game was Monday Night Football at Levi's Stadium. The 49ers hosted Washington in Week 6. The 49ers entered the night at 5-0. Only three unbeaten teams were left in the NFL, according to NBC Sports Bay Area.
Purdy entered the game with a career passer rating of 105.4. That number came over 1,495 regular-season pass attempts, the Associated Press reported. The NFL requires 1,500 attempts to qualify for its career leaderboard. Purdy needed only five more passes.
He did not waste time. On the first drive, he went 5-of-6 for 51 yards.
His fifth pass hit the 1,500 mark. That moment put him at the top of the league's all-time passer-rating leaderboard.
The drive ended with an 11-yard touchdown pass to tight end George Kittle. It was a perfect start. The 49ers took control early.
Before Monday, Lamar Jackson of the Baltimore Ravens held the record. His career rating stood at 102.7. Purdy's lead was wide. Pro Football Talk calculated that even five straight interceptions would only drop him to 103.7. The record was almost locked before he threw a single pass.
The NFL marked the moment online. The league's official account called Purdy the all-time leader in passer rating.
Why it matters
This is a big deal because of where Purdy started. He was the 262nd and final pick in the 2022 draft.
Fans call that last pick Mr. Irrelevant. No one expected the last pick to become the most efficient passer ever.
Purdy, now 26, took over as the starter late in his rookie season. He never gave the job back.
He has now played 50 regular-season games as the starter. His record in those games is 35-15, according to USA Today.
The record also fits a long 49ers tradition. Steve Young, the Hall of Fame quarterback, retired as the career leader in passer rating. Young also led the 49ers to their last Super Bowl title.
That was after the 1994 season. Purdy now follows in those steps.
It is also true that passer rating is not perfect. The NFL has used it since 1973. It rewards completion percentage a lot.
It ignores sacks, first downs, and rushing yards. Pro Football Talk pointed out these limits.
But it is still the league's official measure. And by that measure, Purdy leads them all.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan praised his quarterback before the game. "I think it shows how consistent Brock is," Shanahan said. He called Purdy unselfish and said he plays to win every week.
Purdy himself did not make a big deal of it. Asked about the record on Friday, he said he does not think about it much.
He credited his coaches and teammates instead. He said he is grateful to be the 49ers quarterback.
Why everyone is searching his name
Search interest in Purdy jumped on Monday night. Fans want to know the numbers behind the record.
Through five games this season, he completed 69.0 percent of his passes. He threw for 1,196 yards and 13 touchdowns.
He threw only two interceptions, Heavy reported.
His 13 touchdown passes led the NFL through five games. He was also the least sacked starting quarterback. Defenses took him down only three times all season, according to USA Today.
Searches are also rising for his background and his MVP chances. The MVP talk is real.
USA Today reported that Purdy sits second in NFL MVP odds. Only Josh Allen of the Buffalo Bills is ahead of him.
Just last week, Purdy was first in the power rankings. The two keep swapping places.
His season so far backs the hype. In Week 5, he led two fourth-quarter scoring drives in a 32-29 win over Seattle. That win pushed the 49ers to 5-0.
What happens next
The record is now his, but the season is young. Records need defending. Every pass he throws the rest of the year will move the number.
One bad game can push it down. One great game can push it higher.
The bigger prize is the MVP award. Purdy and Josh Allen are the two favorites. Each week is a new test for both.
Allen has already won the award once, in 2024. Purdy is still chasing his first.
The team goal matters more than any award. The 49ers have not won a Super Bowl since the Steve Young era.
An unbeaten start in October is nice. It means nothing in January. The playoffs will decide what this season means.
Purdy will also keep drawing new fans. People love an underdog story. The last draft pick is now the most efficient passer in history.
That is a rare tale. The 49ers face more prime-time games this season. Each one is another stage for him.
For now, the numbers speak clearly. Five passes on Monday night. One record for the books.
The Green Bay Packers beat the Cowboys in the other big Week 6 story. Monday belonged to Purdy. The Rams are dealing with injury news around Davante Adams.
The 49ers keep rolling. San Francisco is 5-0.
Its quarterback owns an NFL record. The season is just getting started.
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