Brock Purdy has given the 49ers something they spent years trying to find: stability at quarterback. Through the first two weeks of the season, he’s helped San Francisco open with back-to-back wins, and he’s also unlocked a new level for George Kittle.
That connection was on full display Sunday in the easy win over the Miami Dolphins. Purdy found Kittle four times for 80 yards and a touchdown, and according to PFF tracking, the two are now the most efficient quarterback-tight end duo in NFL history.
That’s a pretty striking place to land when you think about some of the pairs that have defined the position, from Philip Rivers and Antonio Gates with the Chargers to Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce in Kansas City.
Claire Kittle noticed the milestone and posted her reaction on social media: “Just imagine if [George Kittle] had a consistent QB week to week for the first five years of his career lol. Thankful to have Brock at the helm.
This duo has a lot of records together. Let’s keep it rolling.”
That line caught attention quickly, and plenty of fans read it as a shot at Jimmy Garoppolo. Whether she meant it that way or not, the point lands because George Kittle did spend plenty of his early years catching passes from a rotating cast of quarterbacks.
Garoppolo was the full-time starter only in 2019, when San Francisco reached the Super Bowl. He was also the starter for most of the 2021 season, but he wasn’t fully healthy, which limited how effective he could be.
Before Purdy arrived, Kittle also had to work with Brian Hoyer, C.J. Beathard and Nick Mullens.
Since Purdy took over in 2022, Kittle has finally had a dependable quarterback. Purdy missed only the NFC Championship Game that season because of injury, then played all of 2023 as the 49ers made another Super Bowl run. He missed two games in 2024, and when he was out for eight games last season, that largely lined up with the games Kittle missed because of his hamstring injury.
The gap between Purdy and Garoppolo is already clear. Purdy’s numbers are better, and Kyle Shanahan has shown far more trust in him than he ever did in Garoppolo.
So even if Claire Kittle’s post was meant as nothing more than a playful comment, it underscored the bigger truth for San Francisco: the 49ers finally have a steady quarterback in Purdy, and they have a strong backup in Mac Jones if Purdy ever goes down.
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49ers Suddenly Have A Mac Jones Decision They Can't Get Wrong
With injuries piling up around the league, the 49ers could soon find themselves fielding calls about Mac Jones from teams looking for quarterback help. It is the kind of situation that naturally puts a backup in the spotlight, especially for a team that already has Brock Purdy locked in as its starter and has built real value around having stability behind him.
For San Francisco, though, the tempting part is not necessarily the right part. Jones has more worth to the 49ers as insurance than he does as a trade chip, and moving him would only thin out a position group that matters more than ever over the course of a long season. The market may try to push this into a decision, but the smarter play is to keep the depth chart intact and avoid creating a problem just because other teams are looking for a solution. [Read more 🡒]
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Kyle Shanahan sounds pleased with what he has at the position, and for good reason. The 49ers suddenly have three defensive backs who, at least in the coachs view, are capable of starting, which is a nice problem to have but still a problem when the roster crunch arrives and someone has to be the odd man out. [Read more 🡒]
49ers Offensive Line Is Changing Everything For Brock Purdy
Brock Purdy has opened the season with back-to-back strong outings, and the 49ers early wins over the Rams and Dolphins have come with a different feel up front. San Franciscos offensive line has been far more stable than it was at times a year ago, giving Purdy the kind of clean platform that lets the rest of the offense flow the way the 49ers want it to.
Purdy singled out the line after the Dolphins game, noting how well the group protected him and how connected it looked working together. For a quarterback whose game depends on timing and rhythm, that kind of cohesion matters, especially with defenders like Myles Garrett already showing what this unit can survive when its playing at a high level. [Read more 🡒]