Why it’s so easy for 49ers’ Brock Purdy to ignore his critics

Brock Purdy stays focused on one thing: doing what the San Francisco 49ers ask of him. So far, he has given head coach Kyle Shanahan, his teammates, and fans plenty of reasons to be optimistic about the franchise's future.

Purdy is skilled at blocking out his critics, who try to downplay his accomplishments by attributing his success to the 49ers offense's talented supporting cast and innovative system rather than his own abilities.

In less than two NFL seasons, the last overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft has helped lead his team to two NFC Championship Games and a Super Bowl. Last season, he did what no other 49ers quarterback had before—set a single-season franchise record with 4,280 passing yards. Oh, and he did that after coming off major surgery on his throwing arm.

Despite these achievements, Purdy is often excluded from discussions about the NFL's elite quarterbacks. While this might frustrate some fans, Purdy remains unfazed.

"Honestly speaking, I don't buy into the world's narrative of who I am as a quarterback and all that kind of stuff," Purdy told Rich Eisen on Tuesday. "For me, what matters most is having the trust and respect of the guys in this organization and in this building—my teammates, my coaches, everyone who runs this organization.

"They see me on a day-to-day basis, how I work, how I prepare, and going out and winning games. That's all that matters."

Purdy and the 49ers have one goal this season: to bounce back from last season's disappointing end, climb the mountain again, and finally win a championship. The team is favored to once again represent the NFC in the Super Bowl, and with key players like Brandon Aiyuk and Trent Williams secured for this season and beyond, the 49ers have a legitimate chance to achieve that goal.

"So, that's what my focus is and what it's on," Purdy continued. "And if I listen to everybody else on the outside world and try to please everybody, then I would be drained. I wouldn't be who I am. And so, that's where my focus is at.

"People can say what they want, but, at the end of the day, I'm just trying to win ball games here with my guys and earn their trust and respect every day."

Purdy admits that his teammates occasionally bring some of the outside chatter to his attention. For instance, wide receiver Deebo Samuel told Purdy about Colin Cowherd's odd claim that he can't be a franchise quarterback while wearing a backward hat.

"I've got my news sources in the locker room with some of the guys," Purdy commented. "We laugh about it, and we know what's real and what matters most."