Rookie QBs to win an NFL playoff game: Brock Purdy sets record, joins exclusive club with debut victory

Joe Rivera

Rookie QBs to win an NFL playoff game: Brock Purdy sets record, joins exclusive club with debut victory image

It was a Brock party for the 49ers on Saturday.

San Francisco rolled to a 41-23 win in the wild-card round over the Seahawks with a dominant offensive performance from top to bottom. While it was a total team effort — the Niners' 505 yards are the most they've had in a game since 2019 — Purdy looked the part in the effort.

MORE: Pete Carroll makes odd comparison to describe Brock Purdy

While Purdy was shaky at the start, he looked impressive overall. He finished with 18-of-30 passing for 332 yards, four total touchdowns and no turnovers.

MORE: Why Brock Purdy can be first rookie QB to win a Super Bowl

With three passing touchdowns and a rushing score, Purdy set a record for touchdowns for a rookie in an NFL playoff game, which is impressive by itself. His 131.5 passer rating is second to Mark Sanchez (Jets, 2010, 139.4) in NFL history among rookies making their playoff debuts.

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He also joins an exclusive club of rookie quarterbacks to win a playoff game. His 332 passing yards are the most by a rookie QB in his playoff debut and the second-most by a rookie in the playoffs overall, behind Russell Wilson's 385 for Seattle vs. Atlanta in the 2012 season. They're the third-most overall in 49ers playoff history, behind two Joe Montana performances (357 and 347 yards). 

And just like that, Mr. Irrelevant is anything but.

Rookie quarterbacks to win an NFL playoff game

Twenty-four rookie passers have started an NFL playoff game, including Purdy. They're 10-14 in their postseason debuts.

The full list, with winning quarterbacks in bold:

SeasonNameMatchupYdsTDsINTs
2022Brock Purdy49ers vs. Seahawks33230
2021Mac JonesPatriots at Bills23222
2018Lamar JacksonRavens at Chargers19421
2016Dak PrescottCowboys vs. Packers30231
2016Connor CookRaiders at Texans16113
2015AJ McCarronBengals vs. Steelers21211
2012Andrew LuckColts at Ravens28801
2012Russell WilsonSeahawks at Washington18710
2012Robert Griffin IIIWashington vs. Seahawks8421
2011Andy DaltonBengals at Texans25703
2011T.J. YatesTexans vs. Bengals15910
2009Mark SanchezJets at Bengals18210
2008Joe FlaccoRavens at Dolphins13500
2008Matt RyanFalcons at Cardinals19922
2004Ben RoethlisbergerSteelers vs. Jets18112
1999Aaron BrooksSaints vs. Rams26641
1999Shaun KingBucs vs. Washington15711
1991Todd MarinovichRaiders at Chiefs14004
1986Doug FlutieBears vs. Washington13412
1986Jim EverettRams at Washington13612
1985Bernie KosarBrowns at Dolphins6611
1985Dieter BrockRams at Cowboys5001
1983Dan MarinoDolphins vs. Seahawks19322
1976Pat HadenRams at Cowboys15203

In all, rookies have started 35 NFL playoff games, with a 12-23 record.

Joe Rivera