Philly looms again. Brock Purdy returns, healed and transformed, aiming to rewrite his Philadelphia narrative.
Brock Purdy is heading back to Philadelphia with unfinished business.
When the San Francisco 49ers take the field against the Eagles in Saturday’s Wild Card matchup, the setting will inevitably stir memories of the 2022 NFC Championship Game. That night ended almost as soon as it began for Purdy, who suffered a torn UCL on San Francisco’s opening drive.
This time, Purdy is returning as a very different quarterback.
Three years removed from that injury, Purdy enters Philadelphia not as an unproven seventh round Mr. Irrelevant, but as the face of the 49ers’ franchise and one of the highest-paid quarterbacks in the NFL. Still, when asked this week whether he reflects on how far he’s come since that moment, Purdy made it clear his focus is firmly rooted in the present.
“A little bit, but not really,” Purdy said, per the team transcript. “More than anything, it’s our 2025 season and trying to finish strong and go in and compete against a new team, scheme kind of feel. That’s where my mindset is.” A perfect example of being where your feet are.
Purdy’s abrupt exit from the 2022 title game changed more than just San Francisco’s postseason fate. After backup Josh Johnson was forced out with a concussion, Purdy returned out of necessity but was clearly limited, managing just three ineffective passes the rest of the night. The Eagles cruised to a lopsided win, and the NFL later adjusted its rules to allow for an emergency third quarterback in similar situations.
At the time, the injury carried genuine uncertainty.
“Back in ’22? Yeah,” Purdy admitted. “You tear your UCL, the ligament you use as a quarterback, you start thinking about your future… Will I be back in time? Will I be the guy to start the season?”
Those questions have long since been answered. Purdy not only returned, but thrived. He earned a Pro Bowl nod in 2023, led San Francisco to the Super Bowl, and secured a massive contract extension this past offseason. Even with a toe injury sidelining him for much of the 2025 season, Purdy reestablished himself easily once healthy.
He’s also already proven he can succeed.
In 2023, Purdy led the 49ers into Philadelphia and delivered a dominant 42–10 win over the Eagles. Still, Saturday’s challenge is substantial.
Purdy will be leading a battered 49ers roster into a hostile environment against one of the league’s stingiest defenses. Since Week 10, Vic Fangio’s unit has allowed just 15.6 points per game while holding opposing quarterbacks to a completion rate barely north of 54 percent. Purdy himself is managing a shoulder issue stemming from Week 18, adding another layer of adversity.
Yet, from Purdy’s perspective, the respect for the opponent remains constant.
“I feel like who the Eagles are still feels the same,” he said. “They’re a really good organization and a team that’s going to bring it every game. You’ve got to be at your best to have a chance.”
That’s the mindset of a quarterback no longer defined by what happened to him in Philadelphia previously, but by what he can accomplish this weekend when he’s there for a chance at revenge.