San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy may have had an uneven performance for much of this past weekend's playoff game against the Green Bay Packers, but the 24-year-old came up big when it counted most. Purdy orchestrated a 12-play, 69-yard game-winning drive in the closing minutes to advance the 49ers to the NFC Championship Game for the third consecutive season.
Despite some early struggles, Purdy's play late in the contest emphasized the young quarterback's poise and confidence in himself and the 49ers' offense.
On Thursday morning, general manager John Lynch joined the "Murph and Markus" show on Bay Area radio station KNBR, sharing what he learned from Purdy's late-game heroics and what it says about the second-year's character.
"I think not learned, maybe confirmed the things that we've talked about all year," Lynch shared. "Whatever you call that, his mettle, his resolve, his resiliency, his ability, all of it. He's a stud. And that last drive, absent a drop from [TE George] Kittle, where Kittle's just trying to make a play, he's seven of seven.
"And so you talk about who embodies more be at your best when your best is needed. For the most part this season, Brock's been really playing at a high level throughout, and when we needed him most, he was there in tough conditions against a good defense, all of that. That's why we have so much belief in Brock Purdy."
Purdy, the last overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, began his rookie campaign buried on the 49ers' depth chart. Injuries thrust him into the starting lineup late in that season, and the young quarterback led the team to the NFC Championship Game, never relinquishing the starting job.
A year later, Purdy and the 49ers find themselves back in the NFC Championship Game.
When asked about comparing Purdy this season to last season, Lynch noted, "Just a little more experience. I think when you've had more experiences, good and bad, it kind of hardens you, if you're made of the right stuff. And I think everybody should be pretty clear about my belief in that, our belief in that, that he is made of the right stuff."
Lynch emphasized that Purdy's added experience has equipped him for any situation, as evidenced by the recent playoff game against the Packers.
"The competition gets tougher as you approach this part of the season, and you're playing against the best," Lynch continued. "And Brock, he kind of is prepared and ready for every situation."
Purdy was announced as one of the finalists for the NFL's Most Valuable Player award. Still, the 49ers quarterback has his share of critics downplaying his accomplishments, instead crediting the offensive talent around him and head coach Kyle Shanahan's scheme.
"That's all noise, and people have jobs to do, but I think the noise we concern ourselves with is the noise, and really the reality, within our team, and that's what matters most," Lynch said. "It's not lip service. These guys have his back because they know he has theirs, and they know he makes us better.
"Belief is the word, but there's a ton of that, and it's authentic, it's earned, and it's deserved."
You can listen to the entire conversation with Lynch below.