For the past three years, Brock Purdy has been the biggest bargain in the NFL. As the final pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, the San Francisco 49ers had their starting quarterback on an incredibly team-friendly rookie contract. Purdy helped guide the 49ers to two NFC Championships and a Super Bowl in his first two seasons.
The financial situation changed this offseason when the 49ers signed Purdy to a five-year, $265 million extension, solidifying his role as the franchise quarterback for one of the NFL's most storied teams.
Tight end George Kittle recently pointed out that Purdy has taken on a more vocal leadership role during the offseason. Still, head coach Kyle Shanahan made it clear this week that he doesn't expect his now-highly-paid quarterback to change his personality or approach on or off the field.
"I want him to be the leader he's always been," Shanahan said Thursday. "There's no worse thing to do than ask people to do something extra just because of their contract. That's when you start making stuff up. Brock's earned his contract, and he's going to earn what he gets going forward."
Shanahan added that he and Purdy haven't discussed the contract since the agreement was finalized, and that nothing in their dynamic has changed.
"And Brock, he's been the same since day one," Shanahan said. "You like to say that about a lot of people, and we're never lying up here or anything, but Brock is as much like that as, not just any football player I've met, but any person I've met."
George Kittle sees a more vocal Brock Purdy
While Shanahan hasn't noticed any differences in Purdy's demeanor, Kittle highlighted an example that reflects the quarterback's growing leadership.
"Well, today, he threw a route over the middle, and [WR Jauan Jennings] stopped running, and he yelled at him for not running anymore," Kittle said Thursday. "And so, 'Hey, JJ, keep running!' Just hearing that from him, he has an expectation and a standard for us, how we run routes, and his expectations of, in his drop, where we're going to be in the timing of everything."
Kittle emphasized how Purdy's assertiveness is helping elevate the offense.
"Just him expressing his frustrations and not just, 'We'll get it next time,'" Kittle continued. "Him saying that, and then talking to Jauan about it for the next time, so the next time we go through that rep, hey, now we're all on the same page. And so, that type of vocal is awesome."