Perhaps you've heard it. There is an ongoing narrative out there that suggests it's the playmakers around Brock Purdy and head coach Kyle Shanahan's scheme that elevate the San Francisco 49ers' second-year quarterback. It's as if critics are implying Purdy is just along for the ride despite the 24-year-old repeatedly showing that he can make big-time throws and deliver clutch performances.
One example of those clutch performances is last weekend's game-winning drive against the Green Bay Packers. Purdy completed six of seven passes on the 12-play, 69-yard drive, connecting with receivers like Brandon Aiyuk for crucial gains and even scrambling to set up running back Christian McCaffrey's game-winning touchdown.
"I've never had a fault or a lack of confidence in Brock," Kittle told Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area. "And you come away from this game [with] a game-winning drive in the playoffs, and yes, were you playing your best ball the whole game? No. I don't think any of us really were, and he figured out a way to go out there every single play, be the same guy in the huddle, elevate us, elevate our confidence, and just go down there and sling it. That's what he does such a great job of.
"He does a very good job of this. He resets after every play. Like he could throw a 50-yard bomb, and the next play, we get down there, we're in the red zone, and you can't tell he just threw a 50-yard bomb. You can't tell he just threw an interception. He's the exact same guy.
"I think that's very hard, especially when you're the quarterback of the San Francisco 49ers. He sat on the shoulders of legends. That's the reality of his position. It's the reality of this franchise. And I feel like that is a big moment for a lot of people. And he just treats it like, Hey, I'm just doing my job, and I'm out here with my friends, and we're just going to go out there and win the game."
Instead of praising the young quarterback, naysayers will point to the rest of Saturday's game, where Purdy struggled to find rhythm on that rain-soaked night.
While some will argue that the 49ers carry Purdy, Kittle says it's actually the opposite. The tight end was asked why critics love to downplay the quarterback's achievements.
"My guess is that he's the most normal-looking, average dude that you could possibly look at," Kittle responded. "And then you're like, 'Well, why is he so good? Oh, it has to be because he has multiple All-Pros around him. He's got a good offensive line. He's got an amazing running back next to him. The defense is really good. There's no pressure on him. Kyle Shanahan is really good at what he does.'
"But I think Aiyuk said it great. The reason that we're here today is because of what 13 has done, what he does every single day, what he does on Sundays when he gets us the ball in space."
Kittle notes that he's seen a lot of poor quarterback play around the league. That's not the case when you look at the 49ers.
"The way that Brock plays all the time, he's the one that elevates us, and that's what allows us to play at a high level," Kittle continued. "And so it's a lot of nonsense. That's kind of what I hear, and I think it's just he's the easiest target for people to talk crap about."
Kittle urges his critics to watch the film and let Purdy's play speak for itself. Everyone inside the 49ers locker room has unwavering trust in their starting quarterback, who has guided the team to yet another NFC Championship Game.
"Brock's a very confident human being," Kittle stated. "He knows what he can do. He knows what he does well. He knows what he means to this team. He knows the confidence that he instills in us. So I'm not ever worried about Brock. ... There's no nervousness. There's no stutter. There's no lack of confidence. He's the same dude every single play."