Brock Purdy is a lucky NFL quarterback. At least, that is what San Francisco 49ers icon Steve Young believes. The Hall of Fame quarterback isn't talking about Purdy's rise from Mr. Irrelevant, the last overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. He's talking about the situation that Purdy fell into after the Niners selected him.
Purdy entered his rookie season as the third quarterback on the 49ers' depth chart. Injuries forced him into the starting lineup by Week 13, and the then-rookie helped guide San Francisco to the NFC Championship Game.
The 49ers own one of the most talented rosters in the NFL. They are genuine Super Bowl contenders, which means Purdy isn't going to be called upon to carry the offense so long as he can play efficient football.
"In the league today, other quarterbacks around the league are so jealous of Brock Purdy because he gets this innovative offense," Young said Wednesday on KNBR's "Tolbert and Copes" show. "He gets these guys to throw the ball to, and he gets Trent Williams to protect him, you know what I mean? That doesn't happen in the league. You don't get this kind of support."
Christian McCaffrey, Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, and George Kittle. Those are just some of Purdy's throwing options this season. There is no shortage of playmakers at his disposal.
Pair that with having what many consider one of the NFL's most innovative play-callers in head coach Kyle Shanahan, and you have a recipe for success.
"And either you get the lack of support from the coach who doesn't understand the position, or you get the lack of support on the field because you don't have the weapons or you can't get protected," Young said, sharing what many other quarterbacks have to deal with. "Everybody is missing something in that triangle, or that three-legged stool, and the 49ers have the strongest three-legged stool."
If Purdy and the offense stall, the quarterback can rely on a defense that was the best in the league last season. It's an embarrassment of riches.
Young added, "And so there's real jealousy for what Brock gets to be a part of. And I think he wants to kind of mature into every inch of it. But don't kid yourself. When Matthew Stafford is looking across the field, he's like, 'Holy crap. What would it be like to play for that [team]?'"
You can listen to the entire conversation with Young below.