Brock Purdy was not yet born the last time the San Francisco 49ers produced the NFL’s Most Valuable Player winner.
The Niners have gone nearly three decades MVP-less, with Steve Young being their last winner in 1994. But Purdy, playing in front of his home state of Arizona, fired off four touchdowns in the 45-29 rout of the Arizona Cardinals — further fueling the thoughts that the MVP drought is coming to an end in the Bay Area.
NFL Analysts React to Brock Purdy’s MVP Chances: “Certified Monster”
Nate Burleson is one analyst starting to sense who is the clear front-runner for the NFL’s Most Valuable Player award.
Sitting in a studio with his fellow CBS Sports colleagues debating on who should be the clear-cut favorite for the award, former NFL QB Boomer Esiason began saying Purdy is the favorite. The former NFL wide receiver, though, fired off this message to NFL fans.
“If you don’t think Brock Purdy is an MVP candidate … You don’t know football,” Burleson said. “Brock Purdy is a certified monster.”
Nate Burleson:
“If you don’t think Brock Purdy is an MVP candidate… You don’t know football… Brock Purdy is a certified MONSTER.”
— KNBR (@KNBR) December 17, 2023
Burleson isn’t alone on the national media side for instilling the belief Purdy is the MVP favorite. Former 49ers cornerback and Amazon Prime NFL analyst Richard Sherman stated how Purdy’s latest outing seals his case for the honor.
MORE: NFC No. 1 Seed Playoff Scenarios
“I tried to explain that Brock Purdy is the MVP. Four more TDs today and another win. I don’t know maybe I’m just crazy…maybe the on the field performance doesn’t matter anymore,” Sherman said on X (formerly known as Twitter).
Even with the Niners as the road team, Purdy himself heard the “MVP” chants from inside State Farm Stadium the moment he jogged off the field.
Brock Purdy running off the field to MVP chants, while showing love to the folks holding a banner of his Alma mater, the Perry High School Pumas, about 45 miles from State Farm Stadium pic.twitter.com/YQe8BPKUla
— Omar Ruiz (@OmarDRuiz) December 18, 2023
It wasn’t easy for Purdy to raise his chances of snatching the MVP trophy — he had to shake off one massive hit early in the game in the process.
How Personal Foul Ignited Purdy and the San Francisco 49ers
One strong hit around the neck wasn’t enough to keep Purdy off the field in front of his home state.
It became enough for the 49ers quarterback to stay in and respond by firing off three more touchdown passes after the personal foul call.
#49ers QB Brock Purdy exited the game after this hit around the neck by #Cardinals LB Dennis Gardeck.
Roughing the passer was called.
— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) December 17, 2023
Purdy went straight into cook mode with the 49ers offense after sustaining that scary hit.
Brock Purdy and the #49ers offense are COOKING 🔥#FTTB | #NFL
— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) December 17, 2023
Purdy wasn’t done firing on all cylinders. He rolled to his left and discovered Christian McCaffrey all alone, leading to six more 49er points.
The hometown kid is ballin. Brock Purdy to @CMC_22 for a 2nd time today!#ProBowlVote #SFvsAZ on CBS pic.twitter.com/R0ZieCsVLj
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) December 17, 2023
With Purdy staying in, he helped keep the punt unit off the field. He completed 16 of 25 passes for 242 yards. But Purdy clearly took on a whole new set of energy after that blast he took.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan even described that moment and how concerned he was at first.
“When he got to the sideline, he told me it was a stinger. When stingers happen, you never know how long those take,” Shanahan explained postgame. “But I got told a few plays later that Brock was good to go.”
He chose to continue to fight it out with the 49ers. His play kept his team galvanized and secured one title: NFC West champs.
And his Week 15 afternoon now has him as the 49ers’ best hope to finally see someone else join Young, Joe Montana, and John Brodie as holders of the league’s top individual award.
Want to predict the rest of the 2023 season with our FREE NFL Playoff Predictor? Looking for the most up-to-date NFL standings? What about a breakdown of team depth charts or the NFL schedule? Pro Football Network has you covered with that and more!