Purdy played a pivotal role in the 49ers' two comeback wins in the playoffs, including erasing Sunday's 17-point deficit against the Detroit Lions in the NFC Championship Game.
"I think Brock's done a great job with the opportunity," Brady told McAfee. "He got it, and he's taken advantage of it. He was a late-round pick. I know he's got a chip on his shoulder, and he wants to go out there and prove every day that he's the right fit for that team."
"Again, it's a great organization they're running. I really respect [head coach] Kyle [Shanahan], but Brock's done a hell of a job."
Being the last overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft may not be the sole reason Purdy has a chip on his shoulder. The quarterback recently told ESPN's Nick Wagoner that his starting job this season wasn't 100 percent guaranteed. It hinged on Brady and whether the 49ers could coax the future Hall of Fame quarterback out of retirement. After all, it's well-established that Brady grew up a fan of the team.
"I remember him (Shanahan) saying, 'If we can get Tom Brady, we're going to try to get him,'" Purdy said. "And I was like, 'Yeah, he's the GOAT. I get it.'"
But deep down, Purdy admitted that he felt he deserved the job after nearly getting the 49ers to the Super Bowl as a rookie.
Asked about his thoughts on teams like the 49ers continually inquiring about his desire to return to football, Brady said, "In this last season, there's a lot of different things that people would suggest, but I kind of just kept my mind focused on where I wanted to go. Again, this was a great year for me to sit back and watch and learn and get prepared for being in the FOX booth next year."
Related News
More San Francisco 49ers News
-
49ers take care of business in Cleveland: Brock Purdy, defense shine in 26-8 win
Full disclaimer: I only saw the very end of the first half forward as I was taking my daughter to the airport, so I missed return man Skyy Moore's big punt return and running back Christian McCaffery's touchdown run. In fact, the first play I saw was Cleveland tight end Harold... -
49ers Notebook: Brock Purdy's dance party; Clelin Ferrell keeps stepping up; Skyy Moore delivers again; Dodging the weather
The 49ers cruised into their bye week in style on Sunday with a 26-8 victory over the Cleveland Browns, a win they were clearly happy to get. The game was a potentially dicey one for the 49ers, considering the fact that it was a long road trip on a short week against a stingy... -
49ers' Brock Purdy may have a request for Mac Jones, explains sideline arm brace
Last year, San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy surprised his offensive linemen with Toyota vehicles—an extravagant gesture considering he had not yet signed his lucrative contract extension. Of course, Purdy was an endorsement partner for Toyota at the time, meaning... -
Kyle Shanahan, Robert Saleh, Brock Purdy preview 49ers-Browns Week 13 matchup
San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan, defensive coordinator Robert Saleh, and quarterback Brock Purdy addressed reporters ahead of Wednesday's practice as the team gears up for its Week 13 matchup against the Cleveland Browns. Here's everything they said. Transcript...