Brock Purdy’s October slump: myths vs facts
Brock Purdy's October passer rating dropped to 95.1 from a September high of 133.1 as his road production declined. Kyle Shanahan defends the quarterback's ability to execute the system despite a massive $265 million five-year extension.
Statistical declines and road struggles
Brock Purdy’s October performance shows a sharp decline in efficiency. He threw 6 touchdowns and 3 interceptions during the four games played this month. His 95.1 passer rating in October falls below his September rating of 133.1. He averaged 239.8 yards per game in October, whereas he averaged 263.0 yards in September. On October 25, he threw 1 touchdown and committed 2 turnovers against Atlanta. This includes a game against Seattle on October 11 where he posted a 92.5 rating. He also struggled against Denver on October 4 with a 107.4 rating, while his October 19 match against Washington yielded 1 touchdown and a 111.9 rating. I see a player whose road production is slipping, as his 90.4 road rating is significantly lower than his 128.9 home rating. He averages 7.2 yards per attempt during 49ers losses. The decline follows a 2024 campaign where the team finished 6-11 and missed the playoffs. Purdy’s 2024 passer rating hit 96.1 as he dealt with injuries to teammates like Christian McCaffrey and Trent Williams.
Coaching stability and the game manager debate
Kyle Shanahan defends the quarterback as a player who runs the system and makes plays. He notes that Purdy handles mistakes head on and faces the truth of his performance. The head coach maintains that a great quarterback must be a game manager to succeed, which contradicts critics who claim Purdy lacks the ability to play when the script breaks down. Klay Kubiak serves as the offensive coordinator, but Shanahan remains the primary play-caller. Purdy completed 69.2 percent of his passes through seven games this season. I disagree with the claim that Purdy is just a game manager when he maintains a 110.1 rating through seven games. Shanahan expressed that Purdy is disappointed in the turnovers and the losses. He also noted that Purdy is one of the reasons the team stays in close games. Shanahan highlighted that Purdy’s footwork improvements helped him play faster this offseason. The offensive plan involves Klay Kubiak, who was promoted from offensive passing game specialist to coordinator in 2025. Kubiak has served in various roles, including offensive passing game specialist, over the last five years.
The weight of a massive extension
The 49ers committed $265 million to Purdy in a five-year extension announced last Tuesday. This five-year extension includes $181 million in guarantees, which places him among the top 10 highest-paid quarterbacks in the league. Purdy entered these negotiations following a 2023 season where he threw 31 touchdowns and finished fourth in MVP voting. He recorded 4,280 passing yards and 9.6 yards per attempt during that season. This massive financial commitment follows the logic of the NFL fifth-year option rules established in the 2011 Collective Bargaining Agreement. For players who earn multiple Pro Bowls, the fifth-year option equates to a franchise tag. For players with one Pro Bowl, the salary is the position’s transition tag, while those with no Pro Bowls earn the average of the 3rd to 25th highest salaries. You know his status as a bargain, so the scale of this extension should not surprise you. This contract places Purdy in the $50 million per season club, especially after he made only $1.1 million in 2025. This follows a season where he led the league in passer rating and yards per attempt. Does this extension leave the 49ers with enough cap space to support a roster built for a Super Bowl run?
