Brock Purdy
Getty
Brock Purdy reacts after a 49ers touchdown during the fourth quarter against the Detroit Lions in the NFC Championship Game on January 28, 2024.
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy will soon begin his fourth season under center amid his meteoric rise with the franchise.
In the prior three seasons, he has emerged from Mr. Irrelevant as the final pick of the 2022 NFL Draft to an MVP contender and the biggest contract in 49ers history. That means he’s being paid more than prior 49ers legends such as Joe Montana, Jerry Rice, and Steve Young.
Regardless of the accolades and a $265 million contract extension, Purdy hasn’t let it go to his head. Being left off the NFL’s Top 100 list probably wasn’t necessary for him to stay humble, either.
“My mindset of how I prepare for a game, how I practice, how I lead guys, I’m going to continue to do what’s gotten me here, and that’s being real, being authentic and going all-in,” Purdy told NBC Sports Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco on Tuesday.
How Brock Purdy Went From Apparent Irrelevance to Affluence
Brock Purdy
GettyBrock Purdy runs the ball against the Detroit Lions in 2024.
Purdy’s collegiate career at Iowa State only amounted to becoming a late-round draft pick, which usually means a career as a backup in the NFL.
Once his opportunity came in 2022 due to injuries with former Niners quarterbacks Trey Lance and Jimmy Garoppolo, Purdy took over and never gave up the starting job. Purdy led the 49ers to the NFC Championship Game, and an elbow injury in that game didn’t stop him from bouncing back to have a monster 2023 season.
He led the 49ers to the Super Bowl in Year Two, and he became an MVP candidate amid his 4,280 yards passing and NFL-best 113.0 passer rating.
While 2024 didn’t pan out amid injuries across the team, San Francisco invested in Purdy as the team’s franchise quarterback. He understands the weight of the investment on a talented roster.
“Obviously, the organization has put their faith and trust in me by paying me and being the highest-paid player on the team,” Purdy said. “And I’m so extremely appreciative of that. “But with that comes some weight of, ‘Hey, let’s continue to move this whole thing along and go chase a championship.’ ”
The Same Quarterback
Purdy expects to approach things essentially the same now as he did when he battled for a roster spot four years ago.
“I know my purpose, I know who I am,” Purdy said. “I come to work every single day ready to attack it as a quarterback for the 49ers. But also I want to push guys around me and understand what it takes to get to a championship game and now finish.”
Few outside of the 49ers saw what Purdy had to offer as a rookie, but he showed the league from day one when he led the 49ers to victory in his first career start. That came against former NFL great Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2022.
Purdy now has a target on his back compared to those early days, and that begins with NFC West rival Seattle in Week 1. The 49ers and the Seahawks split last season’s series.
“It’s just being where your feet are and taking it one step at a time, and then you look back and like, ‘Here we are,’ ” Purdy said.