Brock Purdy First Quarterback of Armenian Descent to Play in Super Bowl
Updated: Feb 15, 2024
Brock Purdy, the quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers, etched his name in NFL history as the first quarterback of Armenian descent to play in the Super Bowl. The Kansas City Chiefs took victory with a nail-biting score of 25-22 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Purdy completed 23 out of 38 passes for an impressive 255 yards, contributing significantly to the 49ers' success. He threw one touchdown and managed to avoid any interceptions during the intense match.
What sets Purdy apart is not just his on-field skill but also his playoff win record. With four playoff game wins under his belt, he surpasses the combined record of all eight quarterbacks drafted before him in 2022. This victory solidifies his status as a rising star in the NFL.
The revelation of Purdy's Armenian roots adds another layer to his significance. In January 2023, Armenian Sports News’ (ASN) Jason Takhtadjian confirmed that Purdy's family has Armenian heritage. Chubba Purdy, Brock's younger brother, confirmed on social media, stating, "Yes, that is all true! We are Armenian!" The connection was traced to Purdy's paternal grandmother, whose maiden name was "Toufankjian."
Digging deeper into Purdy's family history, it was unveiled that his paternal grandmother is the daughter of John Arthur Cannon and Carrie Lucille Cabe. Cannon, an ethnic Armenian from Sivas, Turkey, and a descendant of Armenian Genocide refugees.
Born on December 27, 1999, Purdy's journey to the NFL started when he was selected by the San Francisco 49ers with the final pick in the 2022 NFL draft, earning him the title of that year's "Mr. Irrelevant." Despite initially being the third-string quarterback, Purdy seized the starting role due to injuries to Trey Lance and Jimmy Garoppolo.
Purdy's rookie season was nothing short of extraordinary, winning all five regular-season games he started. He played an important role in the 49ers' ten-game winning streak, securing a division title and an NFC Championship Game appearance. The momentum continued into the 2023 season, where Purdy led the 49ers to another division title, topped the league in multiple passing categories, and set the franchise's single-season passing yards record.
