Imagine hopping into your Uber and realizing you're sharing the ride with San Francisco 49ers star quarterback Brock Purdy and his new wife, Jenna. While that might be exciting for you, the Purdys might prefer more privacy while going from point A to point B. The 24-year-old quarterback is trying to avoid such scenarios.
Purdy has become a very recognizable face in the Bay Area and beyond. He doesn't enjoy the privacy some NFL stars can afford and must balance the contrast between his newfound fame and modest NFL salary. The high cost of living in the Bay Area only adds to the challenge.
"Just security with our house, where we live and when we travel and stuff, being able to fly first class and do like those kinds of things," Purdy said. "Ubers, the more expensive ones, where they are more private. I don't know how to describe it, but I'm just thinking long-term for my wife and I.
"Yes, the privacy aspect. With privacy comes expenses, and it's a little bit more expensive with that kind of lifestyle."
Even as one of the lowest-paid quarterbacks in the NFL, Purdy isn't hurting for cash. He'll earn about $1 million this year playing football. However, by NFL standards, Purdy is a salary-cap bargain. Trevor Lawrence, Jordan Love, and Joe Burrow top the quarterback market, earning annual salaries of $55 million.
Purdy has already helped guide the 49ers to two NFC Championship Games and a Super Bowl, all while taking up a small percentage of the team's cap space. His four-year rookie deal is worth approximately $3.74 million.
That will change next year when Purdy is expected to become one of the NFL's highest-paid players. Some predict his new contract might earn him an annual salary of $60 million or more.
Until then, Purdy has found a solution to his dilemma. The quarterback is supplementing his current salary with sponsorship deals to provide a better life for himself and his wife. Perhaps you've seen his John Deere commercial or heard about his deal with Alaska Airlines.
"Yeah, for me, obviously, I don't make a whole lot," Purdy said. "I make a good amount playing football. But just with the lifestyle and the privacy for my wife and I and the things that we're able to do with my family outside of football, we've got to make some kind of money somehow. So marketing's a great opportunity for us.
"So yeah, a business or an organization will hit up my agent and he'll bring it to me and he'll say, 'Hey, this aligns with who you are and what you believe or this might not, so we can pass on it.' So, those are the decisions that go into it. But for me, like I said, I'm trying to provide for my wife and my family moving forward with our life because you never know. Tomorrow's not promised.
"So, we've tried to be smart about it, but there's been some good opportunities this offseason and that's why I've been able to do some."