San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy was named the NFC Offensive Player of the Month for September on Thursday, the league announced, after guiding the team to a 3-0 start.
Purdy completed 60 of 83 passes, or 72.3 percent, for 789 yards with nine touchdown passes and one interception during the month. He added 10 rushes for 93 yards and a score, giving him 10 total touchdowns. His passer rating of 133.1 leads the NFL, and he is tied for the league lead in touchdown passes.
He is the only quarterback this season to throw multiple touchdown passes and post a passer rating of 100 or higher in each of the first three weeks. The honor is the first Player of the Month award of his career.
Purdy joins Steve Young, Joe Montana and Jeff Garcia as the only 49ers quarterbacks to receive the monthly recognition. Young won it six times, Montana earned it in November 1989, and Garcia took the award in November 2001.
In the season opener at the Los Angeles Rams on Sept. 10, Purdy went 25 of 34 for 205 yards and three touchdowns with one interception. San Francisco won 27-7. He also ran five times for 29 yards.
Against the Miami Dolphins on Sept. 20, he completed 20 of 22 passes for 287 yards and two touchdowns with a 149.1 rating. He rushed three times for 30 yards and a touchdown in a 35-13 victory. That performance made him the first player in NFL history to complete at least 90 percent of his passes, throw for at least 285 yards and two scores, and run for a touchdown in the same game.
Purdy followed with 15 completions on 27 attempts for 297 yards and four touchdowns against the Arizona Cardinals on Sept. 27. He did not throw an interception and posted a 133.8 rating while adding 34 rushing yards on two carries. The 49ers held on for a 36-30 win.
He has not been sacked through three games. The 49ers have scored 98 points in that span, an average of 32.7 per game, which ranks second in the league.
San Francisco hosts the Denver Broncos, who are 2-1, on Sunday at Levi’s Stadium. Kickoff is set for 1:25 p.m. PT. The Broncos have recorded eight sacks this season.
General manager John Lynch, speaking to KNBR on Thursday, described the changes he has seen in Purdy’s play.
“Just the conviction he’s playing with in his decision making… even feels like there is a little more torque in the way he’s throwing,” Lynch said. “He is really driving the football this year. I think when you can combine efficiency with explosiveness that’s what he’s doing.”
The 49ers selected Purdy with the final pick of the 2022 draft, 262nd overall. Injuries to other quarterbacks opened the door as a rookie, and he has remained the starter. He is now in his fifth season with the club.
The offense has dealt with injuries at wide receiver, yet Purdy has maintained efficiency. His 9.5 yards per attempt rank among the league’s best marks early in the year.
The award covers games from Weeks 1 through 3. New York Giants safety Jevón Holland and Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Myles Price received the defensive and special teams honors for the NFC in September.
Purdy’s September numbers also include a perfect record in games where the 49ers scored at least 27 points. The team sits alone atop the NFC West.
Sunday’s matchup gives him another chance to face a defense that has generated pressure. The Broncos rank among the teams with multiple interceptions already this season.
