San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy has grown accustomed to playing behind one of the most dominant offensive linemen in NFL history—left tackle Trent Williams. Since entering the league, Purdy has had the luxury of Williams protecting his blindside, and when the All-Pro isn't on the field, the difference is noticeable.
Purdy recently appeared on the Bussin' With The Boys podcast and shared how much Williams' presence means to him. The offensive lineman's absence is always felt, especially during the final stretch of the 2024 season, when Williams missed time due to an ankle injury.
"Last year, he got hurt towards the end, and it's just different," Purdy admitted.
While Purdy trusts whoever the 49ers coaching staff puts in to protect him, he knows there's no replacing Williams' elite skill set. The future Hall of Famer, who turns 37 next week, hasn't lost a step, still moving with rare athleticism for someone who stands 6-foot-5 and weighs 320 pounds.
"He does this ninja move thing, and then pushes guys in the ground," Purdy said. "And then, outside of that, just pass [protection] and stuff, he's locked down over there. And so, year after year, for me, blindside as a quarterback, right-handed quarterback, knowing that my left side is good, I can't even describe to you. It's like a sense of freedom."
Williams isn't just a pass protector. He's a key part of Kyle Shanahan's run-heavy scheme. His ability to dominate at the point of attack is a big reason the 49ers' offense hums the way it does. Still, his age naturally leads to questions about how much longer he can continue playing at such a high level.
"We always ask ourselves every year when he comes back, we're like, 'Is Trent gonna be the same? Is this still the Trent Williams [we know]?'" Purdy shared. "Dude, year after year, he's the same guy. Absolutely love him. For me to be a quarterback in the NFL and have that guy blocking for me, dude, it doesn't get any better."
Because Williams is so valuable on offense, Purdy admits that he constantly checks in with his veteran offensive lineman whenever an injury issue surfaces.
"He's like my little safety blanket," Purdy said with a laugh. "I'm like, 'I need my binky and I need him to be in the game.'"
Williams, Purdy added, is always honest with him about how he's feeling physically, which helps the quarterback know whether he can count on No. 71 suiting up on Sundays.
Did Trent Williams ever get his Toyota?
One of the more entertaining moments from the podcast came when Purdy was asked about his viral Christmas gift to the offensive line—a mix of Toyota Sequoias and Tundras, courtesy of a partnership with the car company.
However, noticeably absent from the video that emerged was Williams, whose collection of exotic vehicles probably didn't include a Toyota.
Purdy recalled the days leading to the big Christmas gift reveal.
"I literally went up to him and I was like, 'Hey, dude, Toyota's helping us out. We got 10 of them for all the O-linemen and stuff. Just curious, do you still want yours or not?'" Purdy said. "And he's like, 'Hell, yeah.' He's like, 'I'll paint that thing pink.' And I'm like, 'All right.'
"But then, sure enough, he forgets about it somehow. Everyone gets their cars and stuff, and they're like, 'Trent, what'd you think about yours?' And he's like, 'Brock, what did I get? A truck or a car?' And I was like, 'Bro, Trent doesn't even know.'"
Tight end George Kittle even tried to capitalize on the situation, offering to take Williams' vehicle off his hands, saying he would be happy to drive it.
"I still don't know if Trent's driven it or not," Purdy added, laughing.