San Francisco 49ers starting quarterbacks

24 since 1999 · Last start: Brock Purdy

Who has started at quarterback for the 49ers?

The San Francisco 49ers have started 24 quarterbacks since 1999. Alex Smith made the most starts since 1999: 75 (38-36-1). In 2026 Brock Purdy has started all 4 games (4-0).

Year by year Most starts

49ers starting quarterbacks by year

San Francisco 49ers starting quarterbacks by season: starts and record as the starter
Season	Starters: starts (record)	Record	Playoffs
2026	Brock Purdy 4 (4-0)	4-0	—
2025	Brock Purdy 9 (7-2)Mac Jones 8 (5-3)	12-5	Brock Purdy 1-1
2024	Brock Purdy 15 (6-9)Brandon Allen 1 (0-1)Joshua Dobbs 1 (0-1)	6-11	—
2023	Brock Purdy 16 (12-4)Sam Darnold 1 (0-1)	12-5	Brock Purdy 2-1
2022	Trey Lance 2 (1-1)Jimmy Garoppolo 10 (7-3)Brock Purdy 5 (5-0)	13-4	Brock Purdy 2-1
2021	Jimmy Garoppolo 15 (9-6)Trey Lance 2 (1-1)	10-7	Jimmy Garoppolo 2-1
2020	Jimmy Garoppolo 6 (3-3)Nick Mullens 8 (2-6)C.J. Beathard 2 (1-1)	6-10	—
2019	Jimmy Garoppolo 16 (13-3)	13-3	Jimmy Garoppolo 2-1
2018	Jimmy Garoppolo 3 (1-2)C.J. Beathard 5 (0-5)Nick Mullens 8 (3-5)	4-12	—
2017	Brian Hoyer 6 (0-6)C.J. Beathard 5 (1-4)Jimmy Garoppolo 5 (5-0)	6-10	—
2016	Blaine Gabbert 5 (1-4)Colin Kaepernick 11 (1-10)	2-14	—
2015	Colin Kaepernick 8 (2-6)Blaine Gabbert 8 (3-5)	5-11	—
2014	Colin Kaepernick 16 (8-8)	8-8	—
2013	Colin Kaepernick 16 (12-4)	12-4	Colin Kaepernick 2-1
2012	Alex Smith 9 (6-2-1)Colin Kaepernick 7 (5-2)	11-4-1	Colin Kaepernick 2-1
2011	Alex Smith 16 (13-3)	13-3	Alex Smith 1-1
2010	Alex Smith 10 (3-7)Troy Smith 6 (3-3)	6-10	—
2009	Shaun Hill 6 (3-3)Alex Smith 10 (5-5)	8-8	—
2008	J.T. O'Sullivan 8 (2-6)Shaun Hill 8 (5-3)	7-9	—
2007	Alex Smith 7 (2-5)Trent Dilfer 6 (1-5)Shaun Hill 2 (2-0)Chris Weinke 1 (0-1)	5-11	—
2006	Alex Smith 16 (7-9)	7-9	—
2005	Tim Rattay 4 (1-3)Alex Smith 7 (2-5)Ken Dorsey 3 (1-2)Cody Pickett 2 (0-2)	4-12	—
2004	Tim Rattay 9 (1-8)Ken Dorsey 7 (1-6)	2-14	—
2003	Jeff Garcia 13 (5-8)Tim Rattay 3 (2-1)	7-9	—
2002	Jeff Garcia 15 (10-5)Tim Rattay 1 (0-1)	10-6	Jeff Garcia 1-1
2001	Jeff Garcia 16 (12-4)	12-4	Jeff Garcia 0-1
2000	Jeff Garcia 16 (6-10)	6-10	—
1999	Steve Young 3 (2-1)Jeff Garcia 10 (2-8)Steve Stenstrom 3 (0-3)	4-12	—

Most starts at quarterback for the 49ers

San Francisco 49ers quarterbacks by regular-season starts
Quarterback	Seasons	Starts	W-L-T	Pct	Playoffs
Alex Smith	2005–2012	75	38-36-1	.513	1-1
Jeff Garcia	1999–2003	70	35-35	.500	1-2
Colin Kaepernick	2012–2016	58	28-30	.483	4-2
Jimmy Garoppolo	2017–2022	55	38-17	.691	4-2
Brock Purdy	2022–2026	49	34-15	.694	5-3
Tim Rattay	2002–2005	17	4-13	.235	—
Shaun Hill	2007–2009	16	10-6	.625	—
Nick Mullens	2018–2020	16	5-11	.313	—
Blaine Gabbert	2015–2016	13	4-9	.308	—
C.J. Beathard	2017–2020	12	2-10	.167	—
Ken Dorsey	2004–2005	10	2-8	.200	—
Mac Jones	2025	8	5-3	.625	—
J.T. O'Sullivan	2008	8	2-6	.250	—
Troy Smith	2010	6	3-3	.500	—
Trent Dilfer	2007	6	1-5	.167	—
Brian Hoyer	2017	6	0-6	.000	—
Trey Lance	2021–2022	4	2-2	.500	—
Steve Young	1999	3	2-1	.667	—
Steve Stenstrom	1999	3	0-3	.000	—
Cody Pickett	2005	2	0-2	.000	—
Brandon Allen	2024	1	0-1	.000	—
Joshua Dobbs	2024	1	0-1	.000	—
Sam Darnold	2023	1	0-1	.000	—
Chris Weinke	2007	1	0-1	.000	—

Regular season unless marked. A starter is the quarterback who took the first snap, credited with the game's result however long he played: nflverse's game file from 1999, Pro-Football-Reference's record as starter for 1950-98 (no playoff starts before 1999). A quarterback traded within a season before 1999 is left out of that season.