George Kittle talks outside noise, Brock Purdy flipping a switch during 49ers-Packers

San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle does his best to avoid outside noise. However, those attempts are sometimes thwarted by his mother, who sends him links to some of the negative analyses.

Kittle's quarterback, Brock Purdy, has been the target of some critics, with naysayers downplaying the second-year player's accomplishments. They are quick to credit the playmakers around him and head coach Kyle Shanahan's respected scheme for Purdy's success but refuse to acknowledge that Purdy has done a fantastic job playing the position and should be considered among the best quarterbacks in the NFL.

During a conversation on ESPN's "Pat McAfee Show," Kittle was asked about his quarterback and the outside noise that may leak into the building, responding, "Brock's fantastic. He's been consistent every single day. He's wonderful. I don't know if he listens to the noise. I don't know if he reads it. I don't know if his parents send him stuff. He doesn't act like it. He just seems pretty straightforward and straight ahead."

Kittle admits the 49ers didn't play their best football in Saturday's playoff win over the Green Bay Packers. The team struggled to find a rhythm in all three phases of the game (offense, defense, and special teams).

San Francisco put together an impressive drive when it mattered most, though. Purdy led the offense on a 12-play, 69-yard touchdown drive in the closing minutes to advance the 49ers to their third consecutive NFC Championship Game.

Kittle noted, "Hopefully, that just rolls into the next game because we found our rhythm there."

The tight end knew the 49ers had a chance for a comeback win when Purdy started yelling at his teammates, trying to fire them up after a missed opportunity.

Kittle loved it.

"Whenever something happens like that where he gets to express himself, there's a switch that flips, and the second after that, he was cooking," Kittle added.

Kittle points out that Purdy is only in his second NFL season, yet he's led the 49ers to the NFC Championship Game two times now. It's tough to argue against that kind of success.

The tight end discussed several other topics, too, including why he loves football, reflecting on how last season's playoff run ended, Packers fans feeling they should have won the game, momentum in football, trash talking, and his thoughts on the 49ers' upcoming opponent, the Detroit Lions.

Here are some other clips from Kittle's appearance on the show.

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