One of the NFL season’s ongoing narratives has been around the play of Brock Purdy.
The second-year passer was taken with the 262nd and final pick of the 2022 draft to earn that year’s ‘Mr Irrelevant’ title but led the NFL in the quarterback rating category this season, and has taken the number one seed 49ers all the way to this year’s Super Bowl.
It’s an unparalleled achievement for a final draft pick, but despite the Iowa State quarterback racking up top-tier stats and consistently winning football games during his NFL career so far, he still has plenty of doubters.
In certain quarters he has been dubbed a ‘game manager’ quarterback who is only winning matches and putting up good stats because of his supporting cast and by being a part of Kyle Shanahan’s QB-friendly offense.
But 49ers legend Jerry Rice, who won three Super Bowls with the franchise and still holds a host of NFL records, was quick to shut down this criticism.
“‘Mr Irrelevant,’ Brock Purdy, supposed to be that, I guess that game manager, that's what they keep saying,” Rice told the NFL Network.“I feel like he’s an elite quarterback. I think we have a chance,” he added before making some lofty comparisons.
“He makes plays, man, like a [Joe] Montana, like a Steve Young,” Rice said. “Just a down-to-earth person who wants to win. He’s going to do everything he can to get that victory.”
Purdy will be playing in his first Super Bowl when the 49ers take on the Kansas City Chiefs in Las Vegas on February 11, where he look to go toe-to-toe with two-time NFL and Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes.
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