For a long time now, many have struggled with the idea of Brock Purdy being considered an elite quarterback.
But, following Purdy’s red-hot start to 2026 for the 3-0 49ers, the man he beat in his first San Francisco start in 2022 has no problem putting him in that group.
Speaking as part of a segment for Fox Sports in which he put the 49ers No. 1 in his power rankings, Tom Brady made it clear how highly he thinks of what Purdy has done so far this season, with the San Francisco signal-caller the best
quarterback in the NFL by a plethora of different metrics.
“Brock Purdy is playing as well as anybody,” Brady said. “[He] should be considered in the tier-one QB discussions; at least, he is in my eyes.”
Pressed on if Purdy can now be deemed ‘elite’, the seven-time Super Bowl champion replied: “It sure looks like it. [He’s] playing within the system, throwing the ball accurately, no negative plays, getting his team in and out of the right plays. I love the way that he’s managing every single game.”
It is a huge endorsement from the man regarded as the greatest quarterback to play the game, but Brady’s assessment may receive some scrutiny depending on how Purdy performs in the next two weeks.
The 49ers face the vaunted Denver Broncos’ defense on Sunday before traveling to face the Seattle Seahawks and their fearsome defensive front in a game set to be called by Fox’s Kevin Burkhardt and Brady.
If Purdy can continue to impress in those matchups amid a remarkable amount of injuries to his receiving weapons, then there will likely be many more ready to join Brady in giving Purdy the ‘elite’ tag.
