Knocking Brock Purdy has been a popular pastime as he remains one of the NFL's most polarizing quarterbacks. Those still questioning how good Purdy really is during his fifth season need a reminder he belongs among the league's elite QBs.
Purdy is playing at an elite level during the San Francisco 49ers' 4-0 start to the 2026 season. Whether it's passing to spread the ball around well in Kyle Shanahan's system or picking spots to produce as an underrated runner, Purdy is rocking every part of the job.
Critics will still point to the loaded offensive skill and blocking around him. But Matthew Stafford, Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson and Patrick Mahomes all didn't win the past four NFL MVPs while playing on an island without a lot of the right coaching and personnel support.
Look up at the MVP odds for '26, and it might surprising that Purdy is listed as a favorite. According to FanDuel, Purdy's odds (+400) to win the league's most coveted award are a little behind only Allen (+250), the 2024 winner.
It's smart sportsbooks are holding Purdy's performance through the quarter-term of the NFL season in high regard. There's plenty of backing to say Purdy is most-valuable caliber, starting with the standout stats.
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Four reasons why Brock Purdy is having an MVP season
Brock Purdy leads the league in passing touchdowns and passer rating
Purdy is tied with the Raiders' Kirk Cousins with his 11 TDs. At the same time, he's averaging 8.9 yards per attempt and with only one interception in four games, he's up to what would be single-season record-setting efficiency at 126.2.
Looking at the previous 8 NFL MVPs, 5 of them led the league in TD passes (Stafford, Mahomes twice, Jackson and Aaron Rodgers). Only in three seasons has a QB rated above 120.0 and all won MVP (Rodgers twice and Peyton Manning).
With 34 more attempts, Purdy will hit the 1,500 career total necessary to qualify among the all-time leaders in passing efficiency. If he keeps his cumulative number near his current 105.7, he would be No. 1 on that list. He also would be a little ahead of Jackson, Rodgers and Mahomes, who combined to win the six consecutive MVPs before Allen and Stafford stop that three-man cycle the past two seasons.
Brock Purdy also is by far the league's best downfield passer
It's not a surprise Purdy is first in net yards per attempt (8.9) and adjusted net yards per attempt (10.5), given he's the best all-time in both categories (at 7.9 and 8.0, respectively). That's a more advanced look at traditional YPA that factors in negative plays such as sacks and interceptions.
Based on adjusted YPA, for which Pro Football Reference tracks a single-season index, Purdy is the best ever this season at 150, 50 points higher than the average. Only Manning in his spectacular 49-TD pass 2004 MVP season was higher at 153. The other QB to hit 150 for a season was Dan Marino in his 48-TD pass 1984 MVP season. Purdy is on pace for 47 TDs, which would surpass Stafford's 2025 total.
With this being the ultimate metric to measure big-play passing, consider only 14 quarterbacks have hit 140 or above in adjusted YPA index. Purdy is the only QB ever to do that twice, as he was at 146 in 2023, when he led the 49ers to Super Bowl 58 vs. Mahomes' Chiefs.
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Brock Purdy is a sneaky great running quarterback, too
Allen is perceived as being the much more athletic and impactful rusher. But after Week 4, Purdy has out-rushed him, 122-118. Purdy is also only 22 yards behind the leader Jackson and only 14 behind the No. 2 Drake Maye. Purdy is also up there with the "running QBs" in the NFL, averaging 6.1 yards per rushing attempt, edging Maye (5.9) and well ahead of Allen (3.9).
It's important to bring this up because rushing offered huge supplemental stats to help Jackson and Allen win their MVPs. Maye's work with his legs almost helped him edge Stafford for MVP last season.
Purdy is averaging more than 30 rushing yards per game and is on pace for a career-high 519 yards. That cannot be ignored in his MVP candidacy vs. Allen.
It's also notable that Purdy has yet to be sacked this season. He does have future Hall of Famer Trent Williams at left tackle, but it shows that he's backed up his mobility outside of the pocket with great footwork to consistently sidestep the pass rush.
Marino holds the record for taking the official fewest sacks in a season with six in 1988. Purdy's play for the 49ers puts that near four-decade record in jeopardy. It's been 16 seasons since Manning was sacked only 10 times with the Colts.
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Brock Purdy has gone from fresh-faced QB to full-fledged veteran leader
For those paying attention, Purdy has flashed this kind of play before, in 2023. That didn't happen again in 2024 when the 49ers were bitten by major injuries to Williams, running back Christian McCaffrey and then go-to downfield wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk. In 2025, Purdy missed five of the 49ers' first 8 games with toe and shoulder injuries.
With the drama surrounding Aiyuk and Jauan Jennings wanting to leave, the 49ers had to make a big move to boost their receiving corps. The signing of Mike Evans, however, was offset by losing third-year first-rounder Ricky Pearsall (knee) and rookie second-rounder D'Zhaun Stribling (ankle) to injuries. When Pearsall was ruled out for the season on Aug. 1, the 49ers brought back 30-year-old Deebo Samuel on same day.
The mix of Evans, Samuel, McCaffrey and George Kittle would not be working at such a high level without Purdy being such a top downfield distributor for Shanahan. To be fair to Purdy, maximizing his weapons should be seen as an asset, not a liability, when it's true for other QBs.
Stafford boosted his MVP case by throwing to Puka Nacua and Davante Adams last season. He was respected for being a venerable passer raising his game to a career-best level.
Allen shares a backfield with James Cook, the NFL's leading rusher in 2026. Patrick Mahomes is being revved up again by having Kenneth Walker III in the running game. Jackson, Rodgers, Manning, Matt Ryan in 2016 (under Shanahan in Atlanta) all did the same.
Purdy is in complete command of a system he knows well. He's locked in with great chemistry from his familiar targets to a notable newcomer. He deserves that kind of respect as a 27-year-old in his prime vs. an overachieving Mr. Irrelevant.
Beyond the numbers and stats, there's no question the 49ers are Purdy's team. Factoring in everything, there's also no doubt Purdy has risen to the ranks of elite MVP-worthy QBs.
