What is a "game manager"? The term refers to a quarterback who doesn't significantly impact the game and isn't relied upon to win or lose but rather maintain the offense. However, in the sports world, the true meaning of this term often gets lost.
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy has been labeled a "game manager" because he does not have the NFL prototype arm like Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, or Joe Burrow. However, he is far from being one, unlike Trent Dilfer.
Dilfer, who took over the starting quarterback role for the Baltimore Ravens from Tony Banks, was considered a game manager. He started eight games, had a 7-1 record, and threw for 1,502 yards, 12 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions.
In four playoff games, the former Fresno State Bulldog threw for 590 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception, but the Ravens were led to their first Super Bowl championship by arguably one of the greatest defenses of all time.
In the 34-7 Super Bowl win, Dilfer was 12-of-25 for 153 yards passing, one touchdown, and no interceptions.
On his podcast, former NFL MVP Cam Newton said the 49ers are not winning because of Purdy, stating he's merely managing the game.
"Brock, they're not winning because of him," Newton said. "He's managing the game. Purdy, Tua Tagovailoa, Jared Goff, and Dak Prescott—these are game managers. They're not difference-makers. They don't have to score every time. They just don't have to throw a pick every time, either. If we're really going to call a spade a spade, a game manager is different than a game changer."
All four quarterbacks passed for over 4,000 yards, over 30 touchdowns, and led their teams to the playoffs, but calling Brock Purdy, who led his team to a Super Bowl appearance, a "game manager" needs to be reassessed.
In his second year, Purdy threw for 4,280 yards, 31 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. He threw for 519 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception in his two playoff games.
49ers linebacker Fred Warner mocked the "game manager" comments after the NFC Championship game, laughing and stating, "Heck of a game manager, wow. "He managed the heck out of that game."
On an episode of FS1's "Undisputed," Richard Sherman, Keyshawn Johnson, and Skip Bayless discussed whether Purdy is a game manager.
"How are we creating a full career's worth of a narrative," Sherman said. "This isn't five years of work. If you look at Tom Brady in his second year, he was 11-3 as a starter and threw the ball well, but his numbers weren't crazy."
When Brady took over the starting job for an injured Drew Bledsoe, he started 14 games and threw for 2,843 yards, 18 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions for the New England Patriots. Still, their sixth-ranked defense was the catalyst to the Patriots' first Super Bowl Championship against the St. Louis Rams.
In Super Bowl XXXVI, Brady threw for 145 yards and one touchdown, which many could call game-manager numbers.
The All-Pro cornerback talked about Peyton Manning's second year in the league and how he was never labeled a game manager.
"He was second-team All-Pro and threw for some good yards," Sherman said. "I mean, he was 62 completion percentage, 4,100 yards (4,135 yards passing), 26 touchdowns, and 15 interceptions, and I never heard [the term] 'gamer manager.' They lost in the second round to the Tennessee Titans. They had a good back in Edgerrin James, who won Rookie of the Year, 2,000 all-purpose yards, first-team All-Pro, and an All-Pro receiver (Marvin Harrison), but I never heard of 'game manager' out of that situation."
In his second season, Purdy started every game except for the meaningless Week 18 matchup against the Rams while accumulating impressive numbers, but he has an All-Pro supporting cast surrounding him, and the "game-manager" term follows him into Sunday's game.
Johnson argued that if Purdy were drafted higher, he wouldn't be called a "game manager," saying, "He didn't have the Dan Marino praise when Dan Marino went to the Super Bowl his second year. Dan Marino had a cannon, and he was a first-round pick. It was a little bit different coming in than Brock Purdy. If Brock Purdy was a second-round pick, he wouldn't be called a game manager. We would say this is exactly what they wanted in a quarterback."
The former University of Pitt quarterback threw for 5,084 yards, 48 touchdowns, 17 interceptions, earned AP MVP honors, and led the Miami Dolphins to a Super Bowl appearance where they lost to the 49ers 38-16.
"I would say that there is a small amount of people are still holding on to that label of 'game manager' for the most part," Johnson continued. "When you have a Cam Newton saying things like that, that adds fire. It's an attention grabber."
Bayless asked who labeled Purdy a game manager because he is the flip side of a game manager.
"He tries to break out of the system and tries to be Brock Purdy," the Cowboys super fan said. "That third-and-four, remember the one to Jauan Jennings? This is the opposite of game manager. That's like it's dangerous, and he pulled it off because he's a playmaker of the highest order, and the three scrambles in the fourth quarter is not game managing."