When you look at the SF 49ers quarterback list, it isn't just a boring spreadsheet of names. It’s basically the DNA of the modern NFL. Honestly, if you delete the Niners from pro football history, you lose the West Coast Offense, the concept of the mobile superstar, and the most clutch Super Bowl drives ever televised.
Most people just think of Joe Montana and Steve Young. Maybe they throw in Brock Purdy because he's the current guy lighting it up. But the list is deep. It’s messy. It’s full of Hall of Famers, absolute busts, and "what-if" stories that still make fans argue at bars in the Mission District.
The Current State of the SF 49ers Quarterback List
Right now, in early 2026, the room looks a lot different than it did even a couple of years ago. Brock Purdy is the undisputed guy. He’s no longer just "Mr. Irrelevant." He’s the franchise. But the depth chart behind him has been a revolving door of intrigue.
The Niners recently brought in Mac Jones to serve as the primary backup. It's a classic Kyle Shanahan move—finding a former high draft pick who might have "lost his way" elsewhere and seeing if the system can fix him. Jones actually had to step in for a significant chunk of the 2025 season when Purdy was dealing with those nagging toe and shoulder issues.
Behind them, you've got names like Adrian Martinez and the rookie Kurtis Rourke. It’s a room built on efficiency. Shanahan doesn't want a gunslinger who's going to go rogue; he wants someone who can distribute the ball to guys like Christian McCaffrey and Jauan Jennings without blinking.
The Mount Rushmore of San Francisco Signal Callers
If we’re ranking the all-time greats on this list, it starts and ends with number 16. Joe Montana wasn't the biggest or the strongest. He just didn't miss. Four Super Bowls. Zero interceptions in those games. That’s a stat that feels fake, but it's 100% real.
Then you have Steve Young. He spent years sitting behind Montana, which is wild to think about now. When he finally got his shot, he didn't just play QB; he redefined it. He was a scrambler before it was cool, eventually torching the Chargers for six touchdowns in Super Bowl XXIX.
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- Joe Montana (1979–1992): 4 Super Bowl rings, 3-time Super Bowl MVP.
- Steve Young (1987–1999): 2-time NFL MVP, Hall of Famer.
- Y.A. Tittle (1951–1960): The original legend with the "Million Dollar Backfield."
- John Brodie (1957–1973): Played 17 seasons for the red and gold. A total ironman.
Brodie is often the forgotten man because he played during an era where the team wasn't winning championships every other year. But he threw for over 31,000 yards in an era where defenders were basically allowed to tackle you with a lead pipe. Respect the old school.
From Alex Smith to the Kaepernick Era
The 2000s were... rough. Let's be real. Between Jeff Garcia (who was actually way better than people remember) and the arrival of Jim Harbaugh, the SF 49ers quarterback list was a bit of a tragedy.
Alex Smith is the ultimate redemption story. He was labeled a bust, went through about eight different offensive coordinators, and then finally found his groove in 2011. That "Vernon Post" touchdown against the Saints? Pure magic.
But then came Colin Kaepernick.
Kap didn't just play football; he was an explosion. In 2012, he took over for a concussed Smith and never looked back. That playoff game against the Packers where he rushed for 181 yards? It changed how defensive coordinators slept at night. It was a short window of dominance, but it was arguably the most exciting football the Bay Area had seen since the 90s.
The Jimmy G Bridge and the Purdy Revolution
Jimmy Garoppolo is a polarizing figure on the SF 49ers quarterback list. On one hand, the guy won. A lot. He ended his Niners tenure with a 38-17 record as a starter. On the other hand, there was always that "feeling" that the team was winning despite him in the playoffs rather than because of him.
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Then came the 2022 draft. The very last pick.
Brock Purdy’s rise isn't just a fluke. He currently holds the franchise record for the highest single-season passer rating ($113.0$) and passing yards ($4,280$). By the start of 2026, he’s already climbed into the top 10 in almost every meaningful franchise passing category. He has this weird, uncanny ability to move in the pocket that reminds people—ever so slightly—of Montana.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Niners QB History
There’s this myth that anyone can play quarterback for the 49ers because the "system" is so good. People say Kyle Shanahan or Bill Walsh could make a high schooler look like a Pro Bowler.
That’s total nonsense.
Look at the guys who failed. Look at Jim Druckenmiller. Look at the Trey Lance experiment—a massive trade-up that resulted in almost zero return. The "system" only works if the guy under center has the processing speed of a supercomputer.
You need to be able to look at a safety, know he’s cheating toward the tight end, and check into a slant in about 1.2 seconds. Montana could do it. Young could do it. Purdy can do it. Many others on this list simply couldn't.
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Hidden Figures in the Stats
We talk about the stars, but some of the most interesting names are the "one-hit wonders" or the reliable backups.
- Jeff Garcia: He actually had back-to-back 30+ touchdown seasons. People treated him like a placeholder for the "next Joe," but he was a legitimate Pro Bowler.
- Steve DeBerg: The man who started before Montana. He was basically the ultimate "bridge" QB, eventually doing the same thing for John Elway in Denver.
- Shaun Hill: For a brief window in the late 2000s, Shaun Hill was the only thing keeping the 49ers from being completely unwatchable. He was gritty, un-athletic, and somehow just won games.
Why the List Still Matters Today
The SF 49ers quarterback list is a roadmap of how the NFL evolved. You see the transition from the T-formation with Frankie Albert in the 40s to the vertical passing of John Brodie. You see the birth of the West Coast Offense under Walsh and Montana. You see the dual-threat revolution with Young and Kaepernick.
Today, it's about efficiency and "point guard" play. Brock Purdy represents the culmination of all these eras. He’s got the accuracy of the 80s legends but plays with the aggressive, modern flair required in 2026.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Historians
If you're trying to wrap your head around this legacy, don't just look at the Super Bowl rings. To really understand the 49ers QB lineage, you should:
- Watch the 2011 Divisional Playoff: Smith vs. Brees. It’s the game that proved Alex Smith belonged.
- Analyze Purdy's 2023 Stats: Specifically his Air Yards per Attempt. It debunks the "Checkdown Merchant" label immediately.
- Study the 1987 Roster: It’s the only time in history a team had two top-five all-time QBs (Montana and Young) in their prime on the same depth chart.
The story of the 49ers isn't finished. With Purdy still in his prime as we head into the 2026 season, the list is only going to get more crowded at the top. Whether he can surpass the legends of the 80s remains to be seen, but he's already done the impossible: he made us stop talking about the past and start looking at the future.
To keep up with the current roster movements, you can check the official 49ers transactions or follow the latest depth chart updates as the team prepares for the 2026 postseason.