Brock Purdy is one of the San Francisco 49ers' six team captains this season. It's a significant honor for the second-year quarterback, who fought hard this offseason to return to the team.
"I'm very honored to be able to be voted by my teammates and peers, be able to be a captain on the team, and that my teammates think that way of me," Purdy told reporters on Thursday. "So, I'm very honored by it and it means a lot to me."
Purdy won over his coaches and teammates last season. The then-rookie became the 49ers' starting quarterback after injuries to Trey Lance and Jimmy Garoppolo. San Francisco's offense didn't skip a beat with Purdy at the helm, and the team reached the NFC Championship Game for the third time in four seasons.
In that contest, Purdy suffered a torn ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in his right elbow, undergoing surgery in March, followed by a lengthy rehab. He is set to start Week 1.
Can the 23-year-old player continue what he started last year?
"Absolutely," general manager John Lynch responded Friday morning on KNBR's "Murph and Mac" show. "I think if you want to kind of encapsulate his character, just watch his journey on this rehab. It wasn't easy, but he focused on each and every day, and trying to max out that particular day.
"And that's what Brock has done since he's been here. I think when you do that, you have the requisite talent, which Brock does, you have the requisite mind, which Brock does, the competitiveness, the athleticism, all those things, and you attack each day like he does, it gives you an opportunity to be really good."
The good news is that Purdy is part of one of the NFL's most talented rosters, with players like running back Christian McCaffrey, tight end George Kittle, and wide receivers Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk around him. Just getting the football in the hands of his playmakers will lead to success.
"He's got a lot of talented players he plays with, and he does a great job kind of playing point guard, distributing the ball," Lynch continued. "But then, the thing people keep asking me is, 'Where were you most surprised?' And it was his ability to extend and make plays on his own as well. He's not just a guy. He plays within the system, hands the ball to the Deebos and the Christians and the Kittles and the Aiyuks, and lets them do their thing. He's a playmaker, as well.
"The thing in this league, and Brock knows this, you got to earn it every year. You start back at zero, and you got to go earn it. And I'm really proud of him, the way he attacked this injury. I mean, it's pretty miraculous that six months later, he's back and without effect and without hindrance. He's ready to go into this season. And we're really excited to have him as our guy."
You can listen to the entire conversation with Lynch below.
