Purdy thrived under the pressure.
"This is the way I look at Brock Purdy," future Hall of Fame quarterback Drew Brees told Crissy Froyd of Saints Wire. "Every single time he stepped on the field in college, he was an underdog. So, here's a guy who always had to play kind of with an edge, with a chip on his shoulder."
After stepping in for the injured Garoppolo, Purdy led the 49ers to six straight regular-season wins. In the playoffs, he guided the team to the NFC Championship Game. San Francisco might have advanced to the Super Bowl had Purdy not torn the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in his throwing elbow during the game in Philadelphia.
A strong supporting cast was instrumental in Purdy's early success, something Brees believes is a model for other teams integrating young quarterbacks into the NFL. The situation surrounding Purdy during his rookie campaign could not have been better.
"(He just) maximized everything about what they were doing offensively in order to win these games," Brees explained. "And he's very cerebral."
The 49ers stumbled this season, winning only six games, finishing last in the NFC West, and missing the playoffs for the first time since 2020. Much of their struggles were due to an overwhelming wave of injuries that proved too much to overcome.
Purdy's individual performance also declined. He completed 65.9 percent of his passes for 3,864 yards, 20 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions, finishing the season with a 96.1 passer rating—all down from his record-breaking 2024 numbers.
With Purdy set to earn a massive contract extension, questions arise about his value given his inconsistent play and the team's struggles this season. While Purdy may not yet be the kind of quarterback capable of single-handedly carrying a team through adversity, the 49ers have enjoyed great success with him under center. In his first two seasons, he has led the team to two NFC Championship Games and a Super Bowl appearance.
"So, if he gets into a situation in San Francisco where he's got a great offense, great run scheme, great head coach and he's got all this high-level experience, that equates to success right away," Brees said. "I think there's a lot that can be learned from that story when you talk about how you draft guys and the situations you put them in."
H/t to Kyle Madson of Niners Wire for the find.
Related News
Nobody's perfect. Did you find a mistake in this article?
Report it.
Report it.
More San Francisco 49ers News
-
49ers mailbag: Will Brock Purdy take a team-friendly deal? Who else will SF fire? What will the 49ers do with the number 11 pick?
It's January, and the San Francisco 49ers are at home watching the postseason. It's not what the team or the fans wanted, but there is hope that it could be the best thing for the players, giving them the time to rest, recover, and reset. For all we know, this time next year,... -
Brock Purdy eager to finalize 49ers contract quickly: "I want to be very professional about it"
Neither the San Francisco 49ers nor their young quarterback, Brock Purdy, wants the upcoming contract extension negotiations to drag deep into the offseason. On Monday, Purdy expressed his eagerness to finalize the deal quickly to avoid unnecessary distractions. The 49ers are... -
Will Brock Purdy hold out if negotiations stall? The 49ers QB weighs in
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy recently expressed his desire to finalize a contract extension quickly to avoid offseason distractions. However, all of that is in the hands of his agent and the 49ers, with previous standoffs a reminder of how these talks can stretch... -
49ers make a clear statement about Brock Purdy's future: "He's our guy"
As the San Francisco 49ers begin preparing for the 2025 season, there has been speculation about exploring other quarterback options, given the significant investment Brock Purdy will command as contract extension negotiations start. However, general manager John Lynch left no...