"It's that old saying: Don't count your reps. Make your reps count," San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch recently told Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer.
Whatever he was showing in practices must have been impressive. The rookie was working hard to earn the respect of his coaches and teammates but was still situated behind Trey Lance and Nate Sudfeld on the depth chart. Leading into the 2022 preseason opener against the Green Bay Packers, the first-year player received confirmation that he was earning his teammates' respect.
Purdy overheard a conversation between two accomplished veterans.
Linebacker Fred Warner and tackle Trent Williams, two All-Pros, were walking into the Niners' building, unaware that the then-rookie quarterback was walking behind them.
"Man, I can't wait to watch Purdy play tomorrow," an excited Warner said to Williams.
That meant a lot to Purdy, who stealthly overheard the comment.
"So I was getting some guys' attention," the quarterback told Breer while reflecting on that moment. "Like, O.K., I'm doing something right."
RELATED
Purdy ended up doing a lot of things right last season. First, he beat out Sudfeld for a spot on the 53-man roster. Then, after injuries to Lance and Jimmy Garoppolo, the young quarterback became the starter. The 49ers offense didn't skip a beat, and Purdy guided the team to the NFC Championship Game before suffering a torn ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in his right elbow.
The 49ers have made it clear all offseason that Purdy will be the team's Week 1 starter, so long as the quarterback is healthy. Things seem to be trending in that direction.
More San Francisco 49ers News
-
49ers' Brock Purdy: My whole story has been about being overlooked
When Brock Purdy saw Jimmy Garoppolo take over as the San Francisco 49ers' starting quarterback in 2022, he realized his own opportunity might come sooner than expected. That moment arrived later in the season when Garoppolo suffered an injury, forcing Purdy into action. He... -
PFF writer impressed by Brock Purdy in 2024, wonders if 49ers QB's salary will match Dak Prescott's
Critics may argue that Brock Purdy's stock dropped in 2024, as the San Francisco 49ers quarterback couldn't replicate the impressive, record-breaking performance he posted the year before. In 2023, Purdy set a single-season franchise record with 4,280 passing yards while... -
Insider: 'There's not a rush' in 49ers-Brock Purdy contract talks
Brock Purdy and the San Francisco 49ers would ideally like to finalize a contract extension sooner rather than later. However, we always knew these negotiations were going to be complicated. Both sides must determine where Purdy ranks among NFL quarterbacks—a key factor... -
NFL.com: 49ers got 'ludicrously lucky' with Brock Purdy
Much of the offseason discussion surrounding the San Francisco 49ers has centered around the massive pay raise Brock Purdy is about to receive. But it's easy to forget how the team ended up with him as their starting quarterback in the first place. NFL.com's Tom Blair recently...