I love writing about the San Francisco 49ers. They're my team, they've broadly been successful over the two to three years I've been writing about them, and the future, at least while Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch are around, looks somewhat bright.
The player I dislike having to talk about is quarterback Brock Purdy. Not because I dislike him (I think he's a wonderful player), but the constant discussion on his position has gotten tiring.
That's at least partly because the discourse around Purdy is now, and has always been, ludicrous. It seems that ever since he ascended to the starting lineup in 2022, elements of the national and local media have been trying to find ways to discredit him.
First, it was that he was a system quarterback. Then, it was that he wouldn't recover from his elbow injury. Then, it was a loss in the Super Bowl, and how he wasn't truly elite. Then, he took the majority of the blame for a difficult 2024 season, despite the fact the franchise largely crumbled around him (and looked worse when former quarterback Joshua Dobbs took the reins late in the season).
That continued this year, as his early-season turf-toe injury lingered into a disappointing loss against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 4 and also allowed Mac Jones to stake his claim as San Francisco's interim signal-caller.
Jones did well, no one can deny that. He was tough and efficient, and he led the offense in desperate situations when it needed a leader. He also played through multiple injuries, There's not going to be a 49ers fan in the world who's going to criticise him.
However, that led to people (usually the same people in the media) attempting to spark a quarterback controversy, with people as varied as Hall of Fame quarterback Steve Young irritatingly stoking the fire.
Brock Purdy proved who he is in dominant win over Cardinals
Fortunately, Purdy returned on Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals, and should have finally put all that to bed. While the offense was opened up by the return of wide receiver Ricky Pearsall, Purdy's efficiency in completing 19 of 26 passes for 200 yards and three touchdowns saw a level of processing and explosivity from the position that Jones couldn't have matched.
While Purdy benefited from a quality performance from his offensive line, his ability to work the field, allow receivers yardage after the catch opportunities, and his shiftiness to make plays outside the system elevated the Niners offense to another level, which is exactly what San Francisco needs down the stretch to continue its run towards the playoffs.
The Purdy-Kittle connection is BACKKKK 🎯pic.twitter.com/vQrTPIlyUO
— 49ers on NBCS (@NBCS49ers) November 16, 2025
Purdy's performance on Sunday proved, once again, how perfect he is to run Shanahan's offense. The quarterback's audible calls to work touchdowns to tight end George Kittle and running back Christian McCaffrey showed his mastery, too.
It should quiet the noise, at least for another week.
Jones is a good quarterback. But Purdy is a great one. There's nothing wrong with that. It's a great piece of depth for the 49ers to have. But the Niners fanbase and media is a whole need to look at what's in front of them: Purdy's a great player, and he proved it again Sunday.
Here's to more in the final weeks of the season.