Brock Purdy, the quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers, has made a significant impact in the NFL since becoming the team’s starter in Week 13 of the 2022 season. Despite being the final pick in the 2022 draft, many are hesitant to acknowledge his talent due to a lingering bias.
According to NBC Sports, Alex Smith, who served as the 49ers’ QB1 from 2005 to 2012, pushed back against the criticism aimed at Purdy and praised the Iowa State University product. Smith expressed disdain for the naysayers and doubters, labeling their remarks as baseless. He highlighted Purdy’s exceptional performance, noting it as one of the best quarterback seasons in the last 25 years for the 49ers. Smith emphasized Purdy’s resilience, achieving such success despite undergoing elbow surgery and facing the challenges of a limited offseason.
Purdy threw for 4,280 yards and 31 touchdowns last season, and he ranked fifth and third, respectively, in those categories.
He was also first in passer rating, QBR, passing touchdown percentage, and yards per pass attempt.
Critics claim that Purdy only put up those numbers because he has great talent around him and a great offensive mind in head coach Kyle Shanahan, but the same could be said of many great quarterbacks both past and present.
He led San Francisco to come-from-behind wins in both the divisional round and the NFC Championship Game against strong Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions squads, and he took them to the brink of a Vince Lombardi Trophy afterward.
It took some clutch heroics from Patrick Mahomes to stop the Niners from winning it all in the Super Bowl.
The Niners are now poised to return their offensive core this fall, and they have brought in a couple of reinforcements on defense, including pass rusher Leonard Floyd, who will line up opposite of Nick Bosa.
Perhaps another shot at the world championship is in the cards for Purdy and the 49ers, and if they get it done this time, his critics will run out of excuses.
