SANTA CLARA – Winning his first career start against Tom Brady, and doing so with a broken rib, will make for a heck of an opening scene in the “Mr. Irrelevant” movie that someday will be made about Brock Purdy.

“Looking back, it’s always sort of fun to see where I was as a backup trying to find my way in the NFL and sort of making a name for myself,” Purdy recalled Thursday. “It’s a good memory, for sure.”

San Francisco 49ers starting quarterback Brock Purdy (13) has his photograph taken with his family after his first career start and the 49ers 35-7 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Dec. 9, 2022. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)

Purdy, rather than downplay its significance, appreciates that confidence-instilling debut as the 49ers’ starter. Memories – and echoes of “Pur-dy! Pur-dy” chants from a crowd that includes his teary-eyed family – are being stirred up this week because he and the 49ers (6-3) are preparing for Sunday’s rematch against a Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-5) at Levi’s Stadium.

“He showed he was capable of being our starting quarterback,” coach Kyle Shanahan said, “and I don’t think anything’s been different this year so fa