Brock Purdy's NFL story is well-known at this point. Mr. Irrelevant rose to relevance, leading the San Francisco 49ers to the precipice of a Super Bowl championship. Now that he's on the doorstep of a massive payday, Prudy acknowledged it hasn't just been in his professional career that he's battled doubters.
Purdy recently joined the Built 4 More podcast and discussed how he was never handed anything, even dating back to his time at Perry High School in Gilbert, Arizona.
"My whole story has been just being overlooked, not good enough," Purdy said, via 49ers WebZone. "And for me, deep down inside, I'm like, I know I can play and compete at this level, this level, this level. And so, high school, it was the case. And then I became a starter, and we went to the state championship, all that. But I got recruited very late.
"And then all of a sudden I barely get an offer at the end, and I go to Iowa State. And then I was the third-string guy going into that -- overlooked. And then I became the starter halfway through that season, and then for four more years.
"And then I got drafted last. So, all these people tell me that you're not going to be good enough, but deep down inside, this whole time, I'm like, just wait until I get an opportunity to compete."
When Jimmy Garoppolo went down with an injury in 2022, Purdy got his chance with the 49ers. He hasn't let go of the gig. Even in a down year in San Francisco, Purdy showed moxie, playing with a banged-up crew and throwing for 3,864 yards and 20 touchdowns with 12 interceptions in 2024.
The Niners have shed veterans this offseason and been relatively quiet in free agency as they reset their books after years of splash spending. The moves come in advance of Purdy going from one of the biggest bargains in NFL history to a payday commensurate with his worth.
The challenge for Purdy will be proving he's worth that coin, particularly after all the changes in San Francisco this offseason. It's a challenge the 25-year-old welcomes.
"It's like, how can we take this group of guys every year, who don't know each other, and you've got to find a way to love each other, and then go accomplish the thing?" Purdy said. "And so, being a quarterback and doing that is, to me, what it's all about. I love that."
