The San Francisco 49ers have one of the richest histories of quality quarterback play in the NFL, and Brock Purdy has continued that tradition over the past two seasons.
But is Purdy already one of the top five QBs in San Francisco 49ers history? Not so fast. While he has played at a level worthy of the NFL MVP award in only his second season, the sample size is too small.
Let’s give Purdy at least another full season, if not two, before considering his inclusion among the 49ers’ best ever at the position.
Great teams need great quarterbacks, and the San Francisco 49ers have won five Super Bowls and seven NFC championships, and have appeared in more conference championship games than any other NFL franchise (18).
Putting this list together, some tough choices needed to be made. How do you compare quarterbacks who played in different eras? The numbers don’t always tell the story about how good or bad a quarterback was, so it’s typically best to evaluate based on context — how they performed against their peers in addition to how they were viewed by them.
With that in mind, here are the top five quarterbacks in the history of the San Francisco 49ers, listed in reverse order, with one more quarterback added to the end for good measure.
Related: NFL QB rankings 2023: Where does Brock Purdy rank?
The 5 best QBs in San Francisco 49ers history
5. Jeff Garcia
Seasons: 5 (1999-2003)
Stats: Record (35-36), Comp. % (61.4), Yards/Att. (7.0), QB rating (88.3), TD passes (113), INT (56)
Achievements: three Pro Bowls
Garcia, who grew up in nearby Gilroy, Calif., entered the NFL at age 29 after playing five seasons in the CFL with the Calgary Stampeders, winning one Grey Cup and the Grey Cup MVP award. He then signed to be Steve Young’s backup and ended up seeing his first action after Young suffered a season-ending concussion.
Over five seasons with the San Francisco 49ers, Garcia was invited to three consecutive Pro Bowls, had 30-plus touchdown passes in two seasons, and led the 49ers to one NFC West title and two playoff appearances, getting only as far as the divisional round.
4. John Brodie
Seasons: 16 (1958-73)
Stats: Record (74-76-8), Comp. % (55.0), Yards/Att. (7.0), QB rating (72.3), TD passes (214), INT (224)
Achievements: NFL MVP, Comeback Player of the Year, first-team All-Pro, second-team All-Pro, 2 Pro Bowls
No San Francisco 49ers quarterback played as long as Brodie, who was practically a 49ers lifer. A San Francisco native, Brodie was drafted out of nearby Stanford and proceeded to lead the 49ers for most of the next 16 seasons. His highlight was being named the league’s MVP in 1970 at the age of 35.
He led the league in passing yards three times and TD passes twice. He got the San Francisco 49ers to the playoffs three times, but it took him 14 seasons to get them there. Brodie merits inclusion on this list for his longevity and steady play, which he elevated near the end of his career.
3. Y.A. Tittle
Seasons: 10 (1951-60)
Stats: Record (45-31-2), Comp.% (55.2), Yards/Att. (7.3), QB rating (70.0), TD passes (108), INT (134)
Achievements: NFL MVP (UPI), first-team All-Pro (AP), four Pro Bowls, Pro Football Hall of Fame
There are three Hall of Famers on this list, and Tittle is one of them. After joining the San Francisco 49ers in 1951, Tittle was part of what was called the “Million Dollar Backfield,” which included three future Hall of Famers in running backs Hugh McElhenny, John Henry Johnson and Joe Perry, but he only led the 49ers to one playoff appearance.
Still, as a 49er, Tittle was the first NFL player to ever grace the cover of Sports Illustrated. In 1957, he directed five fourth-quarter comebacks and devised a pass play with receiver R.C. Owens called the “alley-oop,” which worked to great effect and helped him earn the MVP award that year. Tittle went onto greater things later with the New York Giants, but he did enough with the San Francisco 49ers to be listed just behind two other Hall of Famers.
2. Steve Young
Seasons: 13 (1987-99)
Stats: Record (91-33), Comp.% (65.8), Yards/Att. (8.2), QB rating (101.4), TD passes (221), INT (86)
Achievements: 3-time Super Bowl champion, Super Bowl MVP, 2-time NFL MVP, 3-time first-team All-Pro, 7 Pro Bowls, Pro Football Hall of Fame
When Young came to the San Francisco 49ers after a stint in Tampa Bay, he was the consummate dual-threat quarterback, but one who was more apt to run than pass. Yet as he learned the nuances of the West Coast offense, which depended on impeccable footwork, Young evolved into one of the NFL’s most effective and accurate passers.
Young patiently waited his turn behind Joe Montana, starting only 10 games in his first four seasons. But when his opportunity arrived, he was fully prepared to take advantage of it.
He was named to six consecutive Pro Bowls, won a pair of NFL MVPs, and finally led the 49ers to a Super Bowl victory of his own, throwing a Super Bowl-record six TD passes. At that point, Young had escaped Montana’s enormous shadow and etched his own special place among the all-time greats in 49ers history.
1. Joe Montana
Seasons: 13 (1979-92)
Stats: Record (100-39), Comp.% (63.7), Yards/Att. (7.6), QB rating (93.5), TD passes (244), INT (123)
Achievements: 4-time Super Bowl champion, 3-time Super Bowl MVP, 2-time NFL MVP, 3-time first-team All-Pro, 8 Pro Bowls, Pro Football Hall of Fame
Montana entered the NFL rather inconspicuously, as a third-round pick out of Notre Dame. But it became clear within two seasons that head coach Bill Walsh had found the perfect quarterback to run his West Coast offense.
With his cool demeanor and pinpoint passing, Montana surgically picked apart opposing defenses and put the 49ers on the map with his throw to Dwight Clark in the 1982 NFC championship game on the play dubbed “The Catch.” And that critical victory over the Dallas Cowboys was only the beginning of an era of dominance that resulted in Montana guiding the 49ers to four Super Bowl titles in 10 seasons.
To fully understand and appreciate Montana’s greatness, just look at his Super Bowl numbers: In four Super Bowls, he threw a total of 11 touchdown passes and zero interceptions. And with three Super Bowl MVPs to his name, Montana is arguably the greatest player in Super Bowl history.
The only quarterback in NFL history who could lay claim to being better than Montana is Tom Brady, who grew up in the Bay Area idolizing Montana. Otherwise, Joe Montana stands alone.
Honorable mention: Jimmy Garoppolo
Seasons: 6 (2017-22)
Stats: Record (38-17), Comp.% (67.6), Yards/Att. (8.3), QB rating (99.2), TD passes (94), INT (51)
Achievements: two NFC championship games, one Super Bowl appearance
It was surprisingly difficult to leave Garoppolo out of the top five. His numbers alone look remarkable, and he should get credit for leading the 49ers to a Super Bowl, despite losing to the Kansas City Chiefs.
But here is the primary reason Garoppolo fell short: During his time with the 49ers, even as the team won football games and went deep in the playoffs, Garoppolo never ranked as a top 10 quarterback statistically and was never viewed as one either. That’s why he’s never been invited to a Pro Bowl, not even once in six seasons with the 49ers. And without at least one Pro Bowl invite, where should Jimmy G land? Outside of the top five.
One of the greatest “what ifs” in 49ers history centers around his pass to Emmanuel Sanders in the Super Bowl. If he’d thrown it only about one foot shorter, Sanders would have caught it and scored, the 49ers would have won their sixth Super Bowl, and Garoppolo would have been appropriately celebrated as the game’s MVP.
It would have altered the course of 49ers history and cemented Garoppolo’s place among the top five 49ers quarterbacks ever. Yet it didn’t happen. And now Purdy, given some time, has a greater chance of earning a top-five ranking than Garoppolo ever will.