At one point, San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy knew what it meant to be anxious about the uncertain world of the NFL. As the last overall pick in the 2022 draft, most didn't expect much from the young quarterback, who started his pro career buried on the Niners' depth chart.
However, Purdy had lofty expectations. He knew he belonged in the NFL, worked hard, and awaited his opportunity. That opportunity came in Week 13 of his rookie season after the 49ers lost their second starting quarterback.
Purdy has been the starting quarterback since and has helped guide the 49ers to the postseason in each of his first two seasons. He recently sat down with Hall of Famer Steve Young and reflected on his ability to stay calm on the football field, even with the expectations placed on a starting quarterback. That trait has evolved over time.
"I always feel like there's more that I could be better at and stuff," Purdy told Young. "So for me to sit back and think, Oh, man, I'm doing this right or this right, I always feel like there's more. And so I don't know if I necessarily have taken a step back and thought about it. But that's what comes to mind when you ask me, just in terms of keeping things simple.
"I just go back to the film and ... when I watch this film, and everything's quiet, it's not as bad as I thought it was in the moment in terms of going through my reads and hitting a checkdown rather than forcing something or letting the moment be too big for me."
Purdy doesn't seem to get rattled on the football field. Even after a poor play, he's the same confident player, ready to give his all. While he is only in his second NFL season, Purdy has the poise and leadership of a seasoned veteran, and he is savvy enough to get the football to his playmakers under any circumstance.
Purdy seems to have no fear, and the quarterback attributes that to an important part of his life.
"And then, obviously, if we're being honest, my faith, tying into my faith, that allows me to just play and not be afraid to fail," Purdy shared. "Like, I know that God's going to take care of wherever I'm at in my life, whether it's football or not. And so I'm actually able to use that when I'm making decisions and playing football."
Young certainly understands that mentality. The former quarterback told Purdy, "Undergirding of faith, it's a power. It was one of my superpowers. I felt the same way. It's a grounding. It sends a kind of constant message to your brain that you're grounded, and nothing's going to stop that."
Purdy's self-confidence has resulted in his teammates having unwavering confidence in him. When Purdy stepped in for an injured Jimmy Garoppolo against the Miami Dolphins, he just wanted to keep the team's momentum going.
"When I got in, it was just be myself, have confidence, and let it rip," Purdy said. "And once I showed them that I don't have that fear factor in myself, the fear of failure, I think they were like, 'Okay, let's ride with this kid.' And over time, we've all been able to be ourselves and flourish as football players."
Purdy doesn't have a big ego. He doesn't seek the spotlight. The young quarterback simply wants to do whatever he can to help the 49ers win. He refuses to let his NFL life define him. Instead, he considers it a blessing.
"I'm very thankful for it, and I'm not taking it for granted," Purdy stated. "But honestly, my mindset is [that] I try to hold this all loosely, and not try to hold on to I need to be the guy, the starter in the NFL, this and that. And I think the more you think like that, the more you start comparing yourself to guys like that—Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen, or whatever. And those guys are great, but I'm not them, and they're not me.
"I know who I am, and, God, if you want me to do great with this, great. If not, all right, let's go do something else. Wherever you need me. And that's allowed me to not put all this pressure on myself, to allow me to play free. It's allowed me to live my life and keep things simple."
Purdy and the 49ers are preparing to host the Packers in a Divisional Playoff matchup at Levi's Stadium on Saturday. A win would secure the team's third consecutive trip to the NFC Championship Game, one step away from Super Bowl 58.
