49ers Star Steps Up To Defend Brock Purdy

January 23, 2024
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(Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy has had a meteoric rise over the past 13 months or so ever since he was called upon to fill in for the injured Jimmy Garoppolo as their starter.

He was the last player taken in the 2023 NFL Draft, yet he has put up numbers that have rivaled those of any QB in the league.

Yet many have downplayed his success or even outright attacked it, claiming he’s nothing more than a “system quarterback” or a “game manager” who has put up good numbers only because of fantastic skill players and a brilliant head coach in Kyle Shanahan.

Deebo Samuel, one of the Niners’ key skill players, recently defended Purdy against his naysayers on social media while pointing out how Purdy has led the league in many categories, via Dov Kleiman.

#49ers Deebo Samuel defends Brock Purdy:

“Never seen so much hate for a QB that lead the league in almost every category y’all folks be buggin frfr. That tap don’t tell lies”

pic.twitter.com/O5NEpfDeE0 https://t.co/QO2Zspq1hC

— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) January 22, 2024

Purdy ended the regular season tops in touchdown percentage, yards per pass attempt, passer rating, QBR, and air yards per attempt.

That last category — air yards per attempt — is proof that he doesn’t throw mostly check-down passes and that he does take plenty of shots downfield beyond 10-15 yards, despite what his critics keep claiming.

Against the Green Bay Packers in Saturday’s playoff game, he didn’t play his best game, but he came through in the clutch, something that even some of his supporters wondered if he was capable of doing.

With San Francisco trailing 21-14 late in the third quarter, he set up a 52-yard field goal by rookie Jake Moody, and midway through the final period, he started on his own 31-yard line down by four points.

He was masterful on that drive, which included a nine-yard run when he couldn’t find a receiver, and that run set up the game-winning touchdown by running back Christian McCaffrey.

Purdy will now continue his remarkable Cinderella story this weekend in the NFC Championship Game against the Detroit Lions, giving him another chance to further silence his doubters.

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