All-Time 49ers QBs Ranked: Montana #1, Young #2

C.J. Beathard

San Francisco 49ers
Retired 6 Years In The NFL
🏆 Second-team All-Big Ten (2015)
C.J.'s
HAIR
15.3
HeyTC AI Rating

Questions about C.J. Beathard or the 49ers?

C.J. Beathard Legacy

HEYTC AI
C.J. Beathard, the gritty Nashville kid with Iowa Hawkeye bloodlines and a gambler's fire in his veins, carved his NFL niche as the ultimate locker-room warrior—backup extraordinaire who lived for those chaotic spot-start moments. What made him special? Legs that danced through chaos, like that 83-yard bomb to Marquise Goodwin or eluding tacklers on scrambles that screamed "don't count me out." From 49ers firefights to Jaguars cavalry charges, Beathard thrived in the fray, six game-winning college drives etched in his DNA, always the tough-as-nails pro who elevated teams without the spotlight. Legacy? The reliable spark plug every coach craves.

C.J. Beathard Rating Breakdown

Season
Non-Factor
Fantasy
Average
Playoffs
Non-Factor
Overall
NPC
3 years with the 49ers

C.J. Beathard Career Stats via Wikipedia

3,886 Pass Yards
19 Touchdowns
14 INTs
60.4% Comp %
15.3 HAIR

Frequently Asked Questions About C.J. Beathard

How does Brock Purdy compare to C.J. Beathard?

C.J. Beathard handed off the 49ers keys to Brock Purdy like a shopworn rental car—3,886 yards and 19 TDs in spot duty, a gritty 2-17 record, but Purdy's the Ferrari now, gunning for rings with that Mr. Irrelevant magic. Beathard's the bridge guy who took sacks for the cause; Purdy's etching a legacy that already laps him.

Is C.J. Beathard in the Pro Football Hall of Fame?

Nah, C.J. Beathard won't be polishing plaques in Canton anytime soon—zero busts for a career of 3,886 yards, 19 TDs, and that 82.1 passer rating across backup stints. Hall's for the immortals; Beathard's the reliable toolbox quarterback, not the statue material.

What is C.J. Beathard doing now in 2026?

In 2026, C.J. Beathard's suited up as the Detroit Lions' backup QB, lurking behind the starters with that same unflappable grit from his 49ers days. No broadcasts or boardrooms yet—just waiting for the call, probably chuckling at how Trevor Lawrence's injury woes echo his own wild rides.

How would C.J. Beathard perform in today's NFL?

Beathard's old-school arm and scrambler legs would carve a solid backup niche in today's pass-happy NFL—think 60.4% completions, 82 rating, those timely 80-yard bombs to Goodwin. Modern rules shield QBs more than his sack-fest rookie year, but he'd thrive as a Purdy-type spoiler, not a weekly gunner.

How does C.J. Beathard compare to Joe Montana?

Comparing C.J. Beathard to Joe Montana is like pitting a pickup truck against a Lamborghini—both 49ers QBs, sure, but Beathard's 15.28 rating in spots craters next to Montana's sky-high 85.15. Joe's four rings; C.J.'s the tough placeholder who bled for Shanahan's rebuild without the fairy-tale script.