Brock Purdy's performance during the 2024 season may not have matched his record-breaking production in 2023, but his San Francisco 49ers teammates remain confident he's their quarterback of the future.
Linebacker Fred Warner appeared on ESPN's pre-game Wild Card coverage and was asked if there was any doubt about Purdy being the guy in Santa Clara.
"Not at all," Warner responded, per NBC Sports Bay Area. "Brock Purdy, he's the man. He will be the 49ers quarterback for a very, very, very long time with plenty of Super Bowl rings on his fingers. He's about to be a very rich man soon, and I can't wait to see it."
Now eligible for a contract extension, Purdy is poised to become one of the NFL's highest-paid players this offseason. Despite the 49ers finishing with a disappointing 6-11 record, Purdy still threw for 3,864 yards, 20 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions across 15 games.
Drafted with the final pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, Purdy has defied all expectations, boasting a career passer rating of 104.9 and already securing four playoff wins. He has already guided the 49ers to two NFC Championship Games and a Super Bowl.
"First of all, let me say, 'Purdy, I love you, man.'" Warner continued. "'Thank you for being my quarterback.' Brock Purdy, last pick in the draft. Nobody even knew who this kid was. He was our scout team quarterback in 2022 when we had probably the best defense in the league.
"He's in there at practice with the no-look passes, dicing our defense up every single week. I'm back there, pissed off. I'm giving it to him, and he's giving it back to me with the trash talk."
Purdy started his NFL journey buried on the 49ers' depth chart. However, injuries to Trey Lance and Jimmy Garoppolo in 2022 opened the door for him, and Purdy has been the starter ever since.
After undergoing surgery to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in his right elbow following his rookie season, Purdy bounced back and threw for a single-season franchise record 4,280 passing yards.
"When you talk about the guy who has the it-factor, Brock Purdy has had the it-factor all along." Warner said. "It was only a matter of time. When he got his moment, he would be prepared for it, coming in against Miami in 2022, and we haven't looked back since."
Critics have often attributed Purdy's success to the talent surrounding him, downplaying his individual skill. An injury-plagued 2024 campaign, which led to a six-win season, has only fueled such criticisms.
However, Purdy's teammates, like Warner, who face him in practice every week, continue to stand firmly behind their leader.
"Brock Purdy is made of the right stuff," Warner said. "With quarterbacks. The thing that is the deciding factor is—in elite quarterbacks or not—is the processing speed. How do you process the game when bullets are flying, and everything is on the line? And being able to read coverages, diagnose, deliver the football, extend plays, and Brock Purdy does it all at a high level."
