The 2026 NFL season is just five weeks away, but a frontrunner for the coveted MVP award is starting to emerge. San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy has played impressive football in the first month of the season, leading his team to an undefeated start. If Purdy maintains this level of play, the former “Mr. Irrelevant” in the 2022 NFL Draft could become the first 49ers player to win the award since Steve Young in 1994.
Why Brock Purdy is the MVP Frontrunner
As mentioned earlier, Purdy and the 49ers are 5-0 with the Kansas City Chiefs and the Minnesota Vikings. The former Iowa State quarterback is fresh off an impressive 32-29 victory over the reigning champion Seattle Seahawks on the road. Purdy threw for 189 yards, 2 touchdowns and an interception. However, Purdy led the offense on a clutch fourth quarter drive when he found Brandin Cooks for a 7-yard touchdown and converted the two-point conversion soon after.
It is worth mentioning that Purdy was pressured on 50% of his passes throughout the game. The last time the 49ers and the Seahawks played was in the 2025 NFC Divisional Round, when Seattle dismantled San Francisco 41-6. With a 32-29 win on Sunday, the 49ers finally got revenge on their division rival.
Overall, Purdy threw for 1,196 yards, 13 touchdowns (1st in the NFL), two interceptions and a QBR of 85.5 (1st in the NFL). Additionally, the 49ers quarterback ranked second in the NFL in passer rating (119.3), respectively.
At this point, it’s fair to say that Purdy has abandoned the narrative that he is a “System Quarterback”.
How Brock Purdy can maintain his lead in the MVP race
The MVP race is filled with top athletes like Falcons halfback Bijan Robinson, Bills quarterback Josh Allen and Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Robinson amassed 580 rushing yards while keeping the Falcons offense going. Allen had a whopping 121-yard rushing output in a thrilling 37-34 OT win over the Los Angeles Rams on Monday night. Mahomes, meanwhile, has guided Kansas City to a 5-0 start and will look to keep the momentum going coming into the Chiefs’ bye week.
Unfortunately for Purdy, the 49ers offense will be without star wideout Deebo Samuel and fullback Kyle Juszczyk for several weeks due to injuries. In addition, San Francisco is set to face a strong test of opponents such as the Commanders, Falcons, Raiders, Cowboys and the Vikings in the coming weeks.
If Purdy can continue to rise to the occasion in critical moments (vs. Seattle) and continue to protect the football, the 2026 NFL MVP award could be within reach for the final pick of the 2022 NFL Draft.