49ers QB Purdy has achieved true celebrity status but remains modest leader
SANTA CLARA — A week ago, Brock Purdy was waving to adoring fans before and after throwing out the first pitch at a Giants game — missing impromptu catcher Kyle Harrison entirely.
Fast forward a few nights and Purdy is on stage with country western artist Luke Combs at Levi’s Stadium, spraying shaken cans of beer at teammate George Kittle to the delight of the crowd.
Not long after returning from his honeymoon, Purdy and his wife Jenna were courtside at Stanford’s women’s basketball win over Iowa State. Since they both went to Iowa State, there were plenty of familiar faces looking to reconnect for a moment as well as Bay Area fans hoping for a moment frozen via cell phone camera.
When Purdy arrived as the last pick of the draft in 2022, being a celebrity was the last thing on his mind. And one of the most appealing things about Purdy going into Year 3 is that being a celebrity is still the last thing on his mind even as he’s become a budding advertising pitchman for airlines, automobiles and tractor equipment.
“I try to keep it simple in terms of who I am as a person,” Purdy said Tuesday after a 49ers’ offseason practice. “There are people that come up and want pictures and it’s like I was that kid and I always wanted whoever I was looking up to to give time and just be a human and talk. Take a picture. Sign some stuff. I always remember that, trying to give to people the best I can and not be put on a pedestal.”
Except Purdy is on a pedestal. Maybe even a throne, given that he’s the quarterback of the 49ers. Purdy is comfortable there as well, whether it’s in a panel discussion with Steve Young, Alex Smith and Jeff Garcia to benefit the Dwight Clark Legacy Series or taking charge of the offense at a practice session.
A year ago, Purdy was intensely rehabbing his surgically repaired right elbow, unsure if he’d be ready for the start of training camp let alone the start of the 2023 season. So even with the pain of a 25-22 Super Bowl LVIII overtime loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on his mind, Purdy is healthy and in the prime of his career at the ripe old age of 24.
He spoke Tuesday of the “young guys” and how hard they were working at practice when it was suggested that maybe he’s not one of them anymore.
“Yeah, man. I’m a vet,” Purdy said. “I’m just trying to get better every day. I still understand there’s a long road ahead of me in terms of getting better and what I need to do to get better. That’s where I’m at. It’s crazy. We’ve got guys that are younger than me and it’s just new. It’s different.”
Purdy has a vice grip on the role of team leader, and it was evident in his own low-key way at practice, directing young receivers and backs to their proper spots in route progressions. The whole elbow thing is a distant memory. He overthrew at least one receiver in the end zone while standing on his own 45-yard line.
Moments later, Purdy went off schedule to his left, spotted Trent Taylor breaking free to his right and layered a perfect pass to the receiver over the fingertips of cornerback Isaac Yiadom. It dropped perfectly into the hands of Taylor, and Yiadom is probably still wondering how Purdy saw the receiver and then executed the throw.
Purdy does things like that routinely. He can make all the throws, as they say, and the number of critics are dwindling.
Defensive end Nick Bosa, whose appearance at the voluntary session was a minor surprise, conceded his quarterback has become a big deal even if he doesn’t act like it. He compared Purdy’s humble nature to that of golfer Scottie Scheffler (minus the PGA arrest of course).
“I think he’s definitely getting a little more vocal within the building,” Bosa said. “I don’t think he’s ever going to change. I don’t think he’s going to change even when he gets paid next year . . . he’s definitely famous.”
Purdy’s first legitimate offseason has given him a greater appreciation for his professional home and a sense of community. In April, Purdy hosted a youth football camp at Levi’s Stadium for 650 kids. He’s at his peak in terms of physical and mental health.
“It’s huge, getting a feel for the Bay Area, what it has to offer, the people, everything,” Purdy said. “Last year it was 24/7 rehab, go home, rest up, get ready for the next day of rehab. Now it’s get after it with my craft and the mental stuff and the playbook, but on the weekends when the guys are able to get together and have some fun, it’s been refreshing.”
The bond between Purdy and coach Kyle Shanahan is only increasing now that the quarterback can actually take what he learns in an offseason practice to the field immediately.
“He’s definitely ahead of where he was last year at at this time,” Shanahan said. “It was cool to go through a whole year of cut-ups, with the command that he had with everything and being able to apply the stuff we had just been watching in the meeting room.
“Last year it was frustrating for him because he couldn’t work on it. He just had to visualize it and wait for that opportunity in training camp. He’s been great to have for a full season.”
With that in mind, Purdy isn’t taking a single snap for granted. A handful of teammates passed on the voluntary session, with Deebo Samuel (now wearing No. 1) a notable exception. Purdy, however, as the quarterback — one whose average salary could climb into the $50 million range next year — doesn’t see the sessions as voluntary.
Not when he can learn what makes his new teammate tick while at the same time enhancing his own unique skill set.
“I feel it. Guys are coming in and competing,” Purdy said. “Nothing’s ever given to you. You’ve got to have that competitive nature in your mind every day when you walk in. And you can feel it with everybody in the building.
“There’s some guys that aren’t here, but when we do get together again, come camp, it’s going to be sweet. It’s going to take it to another level. Right now we’ve got guys that are learning, we’re starting from the ground up. the 2024 season is right in front of us. I’m excited for it.”