No matter what Brock Purdy accomplishes, there always seem to be critics ready to dismiss his success by claiming he's simply a product of the San Francisco 49ers' system. The "game manager" label has followed the 26-year-old quarterback throughout much of his NFL career.

One former NFL quarterback who knows the pressures of leading the 49ers better than most recently pushed back against that narrative.


Alex Smith, who spent his first eight NFL seasons in San Francisco before later playing for the Kansas City Chiefs and Washington Commanders, joined The Krueg Show with Larry Krueger and was asked what makes Purdy stand out as a quarterback.

"So prepared, and I think had such great perspective on the game," Smith quickly answered, via Thomas L. Murray of the New York Post. "Like this is a guy that could already process and compartmentalize.

"I think, naturally, he's a super mature kid. Like anyone that has been around Brock, I'm blown away when I would talk to him for the first time, I'm like 'Are you 35 or 40?' He just seems so much older, he has such great perspective on things."

Purdy's rise has been one of the NFL's most remarkable stories. After being selected with the final pick of the 2022 NFL Draft, the quarterback quickly exceeded expectations after stepping in for other injured signal-callers.

In fact, many believe San Francisco would have reached the Super Bowl during Purdy's rookie season had he not suffered a torn ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in his throwing elbow during the NFC Championship Game against the Philadelphia Eagles.


The following season, Purdy led the 49ers to Super Bowl LVIII, where they ultimately fell to the Chiefs in an overtime thriller.

For Smith, Purdy's on-field performance contradicts the narrative that he's merely managing games in head coach Kyle Shanahan's offense.

"This is what I don't think people realize: this guy pushes the ball downfield," Smith said. "When you look at the down the field from the quarterback as far as attempts, completions, accuracy, I mean this guy leads the league in the NFL every year in every one of those categories.

"This is the guy that battles the game manager thing, like he's just a product of the system. It just couldn't be further from the truth."

The 49ers' belief in Purdy as their long-term answer at quarterback was evident when they rewarded him with a five-year, $265 million contract extension ahead of the 2025 season. Although injuries impacted him at times last season, Purdy finished the year strong, helping San Francisco overcome significant roster injuries and secure a playoff berth.

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