2023 NFC Championship: Here's all the historic marks Brock Purdy can hit if 49ers beat Eagles
Mr. Irrelevant will have a few "firsts" attached to his name if he powers the 49ers to the Super Bowl
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4 min read
Brock Purdy, Mr. Irrelevant, is one step away from reaching heights no other rookie QB has ever reached in NFL history, let alone the last pick of the NFL Draft. If the 49ers reach the Super Bowl, or even win, this tale goes from improbable to one of the most impossible feats in sports history.
It's within his grasp, and the way he's been playing, it's becoming quite realistic. He's a perfect 7-0 since taking over as the 49ers starting QB, and he even leads the NFL in touchdown passes, yards per pass attempt and passer rating in that span.
Here's a look at some of the improbable marks he would reach by winning on Sunday.
First rookie QB to start Super Bowl
Purdy would be the first rookie QB to ever start a Super Bowl. He's the fifth rookie QB to start a conference championship game, and the previous four had a rough go of it, as we documented earlier this week.
| Rookie QBs to Start Conference Title Game | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|
Brock Purdy (2022 49ers) | at Eagles | ? |
Mark Sanchez (2009 Jets) | at Colts | Lost |
Joe Flacco (2008 Ravens) | at Steelers | Lost |
Ben Roethlisberger (2004 Steelers) | Patriots | Lost |
Shaun King (1999 Buccaneers) | at Rams | Lost |
Youngest QB to start Super Bowl
Purdy will be 23 years and 47 days old on the day of Super Bowl LVII. He would surpass Dan Marino (an older 23) as the youngest quarterback to start a Super Bowl ever. It just so happens that Purdy wears No. 13 in honor of Marino, as his dad grew up a Dolphins fan. If you're looking to stump your friends with a trivia question, the only other QB to start a Super Bowl wearing No. 13 (besides Marino) is Kurt Warner.
| Youngest QBs to Start Super Bowl | Age (Years-Days) |
|---|---|
Dan Marino (1984 Dolphins) | 23-127 |
Ben Roethlisberger (2005 Steelers) | 23-340 |
David Woodley (1982 Dolphins) | 24-097 |
Jared Goff (2018 Rams) | 24-112 |
Lowest-drafted QB to start Super Bowl
You may have heard this before, but Purdy was the last pick of the 2022 NFL Draft. He'd be the lowest-drafted QB to ever start a Super Bowl (262nd overall). The mark currently belongs to Brad Johnson, who was the 227th pick in the ninth round of the 1992 NFL Draft, and won Super Bowl XXXVII with the Buccaneers. Of course, I can't forget to mention two undrafted QBs have started a Super Bowl, Kurt Warner and Jake Delhomme.
| Lowest-Drafted QBs to Start Super Bowl | Overall Pick | Season |
|---|---|---|
Brad Johnson | 227th | 2002 |
David Woodley | 214th | 1982 |
Joe Kapp | 209th | 1969 |
Bart Starr | 200th | 1966-67 |
Tom Brady | 199th | 10 times |
13th backup QB (and first 3rd-string QB) to start Super Bowl
Full disclosure, you could say this list is subjective, but after combing through every Super Bowl starting QB I'm confident that Purdy would be the 13th backup QB to start in a Super Bowl, and the first 3rd-string QB. There's good symmetry here too, as the last backup QB to do this was Nick Foles in the 2017 season. Purdy, of course, has to get through Foles' old team, the Eagles, to reach Super Bowl LVII.
| Backup QBs to Start Super Bowl | Team | Result |
|---|---|---|
Nick Foles | 2017 Eagles | Won |
Colin Kaepernick | 2012 49ers | Lost |
Jake Delhomme | 2003 Panthers | Lost |
Tom Brady | 2001 Patriots | Won |
Trent Dilfer | 2000 Ravens | Won |
Kurt Warner | 1999 Rams | Won |
Jeff Hostetler | 1990 Giants | Won |
Doug Williams | 1987 Washington | Won |
Jim Plunkett | 1980 Raiders | Won |
Vince Ferragamo | 1979 Rams | Lost |
Roger Staubach | 1971 Cowboys | Won |
Earl Morrall | 1968 Colts | Lost |
Fifth QB to start Super Bowl in first season as a starter
While Purdy would be the first rookie QB to start a Super Bowl, it's worth mentioning some others who burst onto the scene and made the big game. Purdy would be the fifth QB to start a Super Bowl in his first season as a starter, along with Colin Kaepernick, Tom Brady, Kurt Warner and Vince Ferragamo. Brady and Warner, who have authored two of the best underdog stories in league history, were the only two QBs to win a Super Bowl in their first season as a starter. Safe to say a championship by Purdy would rival, and probably surpass, their stories, at least if you're looking at just their first Super Bowls.
| QBs to Start Super Bowl in First Season as Starter | Result |
|---|---|
Colin Kaepernick (2012 49ers) | Lost |
Tom Brady (2001 Patriots) | Won |
Kurt Warner (1999 Rams) | Won |
Vince Ferragamo (1979 Rams) | Lost |
Second-fewest career starts entering Super Bowl start
Purdy would be without a doubt one of the least-experienced signal callers to start in the Super Bowl. His five career regular-season starts would be tied for the second-fewest for any starting QB entering the Super Bowl. Jeff Hostetler had just four starts in his career before leading the Giants to a win in Super Bowl XXV to cap the 1990 season.
| Fewest Career Reg. Season-Starts by QB Entering Super Bowl Start | Starts | Result |
|---|---|---|
Jeff Hostetler (1990 Giants) | 4 | Won |
Vince Ferragamo (1979 Rams) | 5 | Lost |
Colin Kaepernick (2012 49ers) | 7 | Lost |
Tom Brady (2001 Patriots) | 14 | Won |
Roger Staubach (1971 Cowboys) | 14 | Won |
Kurt Warner (1999 Rams) | 16 | Won |
Third Mr. Irrelevant to play in Super Bowl
And fittingly saving the best for last, Purdy can become the third Mr. Irrelevant to play in a Super Bowl. Linebacker Marty Moore, the final pick of the 1994 NFL Draft, played in Super Bowl XXXI with the Patriots (lost to Packers). Kicker Ryan Succop, the final pick of the 2009 NFL Draft, won Super Bowl LV with the Buccaneers vs the Chiefs.
