Josh Allen weighs in on 49ers’ Brock Purdy, disputes ‘game manager’ label

This week, Brock Purdy, when asked to assemble his ideal fantasy football team, promptly rattled off the names of his San Francisco 49ers teammates. When pressed on who he would choose to helm his squad as quarterback, the humble Purdy chose Josh Allen, believing the Buffalo Bills quarterback possessed the ideal traits of an impactful NFL passer.

"Josh Allen, baller," Purdy told reporters.

At Radio Row ahead of Super Bowl 58, Allen had a chance to share his thoughts on Purdy, who has constantly been bombarded with criticism surrounding his talent level, even as he prepares to play on sports' biggest stage.

"I think that he, within the confines of his offense, he does more than what he's asked to do," Allen said of his 49ers counterpart during an interview on FS1's Speak. "He makes plays outside of the structure. You go back to [the last game], he's made some unbelievable plays with his feet and being able to extend some plays."

Detractors often attribute Purdy's success to his talented supporting cast, arguing that any quarterback could thrive in his position. Allen, however, challenges this notion.

"We all know that he's got a great roster, but that doesn't change the fact that there's been other quarterbacks there that have had the same roster, if not a better roster, and they haven't gotten to do what he's done," Allen expressed. "So he's doing the right things for his team. He's in the Super Bowl. He doesn't make the mistakes.

"And like I said, he's playing on Super Bowl Sunday. ... I don't know how you can knock on him. He's doing whatever you ask of him as a quarterback to do."

The 49ers quarterback has earned the respect of his peers, including Allen and his Super Bowl 58 opponent, Patrick Mahomes.

"He's done a great job in these last two years that he's played," Mahomes said of Purdy this week. "I haven't got to play him yet, but he does a great job extending plays. He does a great job making the throws, and he's a winner.

"I didn't play him when he was at Iowa State, but when he was at Iowa State, playing against my Red Raiders, he was winning. I mean, he's always been a winner, and that's what it takes in this league. It's not always the flashy plays. It's can you go out there and win? And he does both the flashy and he wins football games."

This week, Purdy was asked about the controversy surrounding his talent level and if he is ever bothered by the narrative that he is simply along for the ride on a very talented 49ers roster.

"I mean, that's the sport, man," Purdy said. "That's the nature of it. You're in the NFL. Everybody's going to be watching you. You're in a spotlight. People are going to obviously want to see you have success, and some people are going to want to see your downfall. That's just the nature of it."