Brock Purdy is set up to take another step in 2026, and the case for his best season yet starts with the simplest thing of all: getting on the field.
The 49ers quarterback has already built a reputation as one of the league’s upper-echelon passers, but the next phase of his career is about turning that into something bigger. If San Francisco gets the version of Purdy it has been waiting for, the numbers and the wins could both jump.
Health is the first reason. Purdy has played one season of 16 games or more across four years, and last season he missed a significant stretch because of turf toe.
That kind of injury is more freak than chronic, and his style in the pocket doesn’t point to a career defined by constant setbacks. There’s every reason to believe he can finally put together a full 17-game season.
The underlying numbers from last year also point in a strong direction. Even in limited action, Purdy was excellent when the pocket tightened.
He posted the highest pressure-to-sack rate of any quarterback in the NFL, and he was just as sharp on third downs, finishing with a 67.3-percent completion rate throwing past the sticks, also best in the league. Those aren’t the numbers that grab headlines on a stat sheet, but they matter when the game gets tense.
San Francisco also has more speed to work with now. Last season, the offense leaned on long, grinding drives because it didn’t have much in the way of a true home-run threat.
That could change with second-round pick De'Zhaun Stribling ready to make an impact. If defenses have to account for his speed, Purdy may get more chances to attack downfield than he has in recent seasons.
The receiving room has been upgraded too. Mike Evans arrived in San Francisco this offseason as the new X-receiver, and he gives Purdy his best shot at a 1,000-yard wideout since Brandon Aiyuk in 2023.
That was the same year Purdy helped lead the 49ers to the Super Bowl. If George Kittle stays healthy as well, Purdy could be working with more weapons than ever before.
Then there’s the schedule. Kyle Shanahan’s team once again drew one of the weakest slates in the league, and last year injuries kept San Francisco from cashing in on that advantage.
This time, if things break right, Purdy should have a cleaner path to production. Beyond the divisional matchups, the 49ers face the Dolphins, Commanders, Falcons, Raiders, Cowboys, Vikings, and Giants, all of whom were sub-.500 last year.
In Shanahan’s zone run system, that kind of setup can create the positive game scripts the offense likes best.
If the health holds, the supporting cast clicks, and the schedule plays out the way it looks on paper, Purdy has a real chance to deliver the best season of his career in 2026.
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49ers May Already Have Their Next Answer At Center
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Drake Nugent gives the 49ers a younger name to watch as camp and preseason unfold. The undrafted rookie has already put himself in the mix for a roster spot, and if he keeps building on that momentum, he could push his way into the conversation as Brendel's eventual successor while the team weighs its longer-term options at one of the most important spots on the line. [Read more 🡒]