49ers TE George Kittle says it’s “annoying” to hear criticism of QB Brock Purdy

Fans of the San Francisco 49ers are tired of hearing about wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk and his contract dispute with the team. Fans have also had enough of hearing criticisms of quarterback Brock Purdy. The former seventh-round selection has been excellent in his first two seasons with the team but continues to have analysts doubt his ability to lead the 49ers to a Super Bowl win, even though he came within a missed block from doing so this past February.

Even after starting five games as a rookie in 2022, and leading his team to the NFC Championship, Purdy still entered 2023 with plenty of skeptics. That wasn't entirely a surprise considering the quarterback's suffering a UCL tear in the NFC Championship Game. His entire offseason was spent rehabbing. So there was reason for people to doubt Purdy.

But Purdy responded by having one of the most efficient seasons a 49ers' passer has ever had. He was named to the Pro Bowl in 2023 and led the NFL in several categories, including TD%, yards gained per attempt, adjusted yards gained per pass attempt, yards gained per completion, QB rating, QBR, net yards gained per pass attempt, and adjusted net yards per pass attempt (per Pro Football Reference).

Purdy also broke the 49ers' single-season record for most passing yards. And until a bad game on Christmas night against the Baltimore Ravens, Purdy was one of the favorites to be named NFL MVP. The only thing he didn't do was win a Super Bowl in his first full season as a starter like Joe Montana did in 1981. Still, there are critics everywhere, and not only are the fans tired of hearing it, but so are Purdy's teammates.

All-Pro tight end, George Kittle, joined Kay Adams on Friday for the Up and Adams show. Adams asked Kittle how personally he takes it when Purdy gets criticized. As you would guess, Kittle was not shy about sharing his thoughts.

"I do a really good job of avoiding the media in the season," Kittle said. "But it does get pretty annoying sometimes when you hear all the things going on about Brock because this is my thing: if he was a top-20 pick, first-round pick...he wouldn't be a punching bag to nobody. But because he was the last pick in the draft, because he's a shorter white guy from Iowa State, it's just like, 'Ah, nah, dude, it's just because of all the other guys on his team, that's why he's so good.'

"I'm like, just watch the tape. He's obviously better than what you guys are saying that he is. You look at all the stats, too. The down-the-field yards is one of the most in the NFL. His accuracy, his QB rating, his touchdowns to interceptions, his yards. He's top-five in every statistical category. It's not just the guys he playing with, he's also a really good quarterback."

All-Pro linebacker, Fred Warner, also joined Adams and responded to reporters and analysts who like to write about Purdy throwing interceptions in training camp. "People want to make something out of practice interceptions and all that other stuff," Warner told Adams. "Listen, you've obviously never been in the NFL if you're writing stories about interceptions in practice. Like Deebo mentioned, he's going against one of the best defenses in the league. So, we're not worried about that."

WR Deebo Samuel, who also spoke with Adams, said, "Practice is where you work on your craft, and you know. And for one, our defense knows all our plays. It's kind of really, really hard to get open."

This season will be a big one for Purdy. It will be yet another opportunity to silence his critics. And with a new contract looming, Purdy will want to be at his best. And that doesn't even mention that little Super Bowl thing. The 49ers believe this could be their year.

• Marc Adams
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