New 49ers quarterback Josh Dobbs understands the situation. He joined the San Francisco team this season not because he believed he could become the starting quarterback, but because he thought he could benefit from learning one of the most important offenses in the league. He didn't join the 49ers to replace Brock Purdy, only to learn from him.
But this doesn't mean that Dobbs doesn't have the potential to be a starter in the NFL. A fourth-round pick from Tennessee in the 2017 draft, Dobbs waited for his chance to have a starting role, and it finally came last year—playing for an overmatched Arizona team that was biding its time until Kyler Murray returned.
Dobbs went 1-7 with the Cardinals, but was dealt to Minnesota, where he went 4-4 as the Vikings starter but was demoted during an unsightly 3-0 win over the Raiders.
But timing is everything. Dobbs had perhaps the best game of his NFL career in Week 4 against the 49ers, when he went 28-for-41 passing with 265 yards, two touchdowns, no interceptions and a 102.2 passer rating. That game may well have gotten Dobbs a job with the Niners.
49ers Have Quarterback Depth
Dobbs appeared on “The Adam Schefter Podcast” this week to discuss his 2023 season and how he joined the 49ers. He was asked about Purdy, and his response was extension (via 49ers Web Zone):
“We played him in Arizona, and that’s why I respected him so much … Now, he does have a great cast, but at the end of the day, he has to be the decision-maker and the driving force of the offense, and the way he makes good decisions, takes care of the football and plays just efficient, clean football.
“Like, he might not go out there and make the wild play all the time, but he’s going to go out there and put his team in a great position to be successful. And that’s what you have to do, especially in the [Kyle] Shanahan offense, and then obviously, especially when you have some really good weapons around you.”
Purdy had an MVP-caliber season in 2023, and had the 49ers within a defensive stop of a Super Bowl championship. He led the team to a 12-4 record as a starter, and set a franchise record for passing yards with 4,280. He threw 31 touchdowns last year, making him the first 49ers quarterback since Jeff Garcia in 2001 to surpass 30 TDs in one year.
Few QB rooms are as deep as the 49ers’ at this point. Not only is Purdy the starter, but Dobbs has been a starter, too, as has veteran Brandon Allen is behind them.
Brock Purdy ‘Wins Football Games’
Purdy was the most efficient quarterback in the NFL last season. Still, he received persistent criticism for being a so-called “system” quarterback, the implication being that Purdy was not a very good quarterback, but, rather, just a guy who can flourish in Shanahan’s innovative offense.
Purdy led the NFL in quarterback rating (113.0), QBR (72.8), yards per reception (13.9) and touchdown percentage (7.0%). He is in only his second season. Thus, Dobbs is not buying the whole “system quarterback” rap.
“That’s why I’ve respected seeing how he’s been able to quickly do that from the first year, getting thrown into the fire, because I know what that feels like,” Dobbs said. “And then being able to go to the NFC Championship Game, be one injury away from going to the Super Bowl, and then go to the Super Bowl the next year in the midst of, obviously, all the people trying to say he’s a game manager, yada, yada, yada.
“In the end, he is successful in winning football games and plays effectively. That is all that can be expected.”
