The San Francisco 49ers will match up against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday when they clash in Super Bowl LVIII. The quarterbacks that lead both teams into the biggest game of the year took wildly different paths to get to this point. Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, a first round pick in 2017, is a 2-time Super Bowl MVP and league MVP, while 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy was the last pick of the 2022 draft. Purdy’s story is one that fans of the game can appreciate and respect. It is a story of unwavering persistence in pursuit of a dream. Let’s take a look at how this underdog got to the Super Bowl.
Brock Purdy’s Collegiate Career
Brock Purdy at Iowa State In 2018, the year Mahomes took home league MVP honors in his first year starting for the Chiefs, Purdy was entering college at Iowa State as the team’s 3rd string quarterback. By his sophomore year, he was the full-time starter and had a relatively up and down college career overall. He was never a flashy player, but he made good throws and always had a winning record each season. His best statistical season was as a sophomore when he threw for 3,982 yards and tossed 27 touchdowns. The team went 7-6 for the season but found greater success the following season when they went 9-3. However, Purdy’s unremarkable college highlight tape allowed him to fall to the very last pick in the 2022 draft. After the 49ers selected him, he became “Mr. Irrelevant” for that season, a term always given to the draft’s final pick. Recently, Purdy opened up about being the last pick, saying that there was a reason he fell in the draft as he was not that good of a prospect coming out of school.
2022 Rookie Season
Tom Brady congratulates Brock Purdy on his first career win Purdy made the 49ers roster out of training camp as the 3rd string behind Trey Lance and Jimmy Garoppolo. At this point, Purdy was backing up the 3rd overall pick in 2021 (Lance) and a quarterback who recently led San Francisco to a Super Bowl appearance (Garoppolo). However, both suffered major injuries, paving the way for Purdy to play. Entering a Week 13 contest in the 1st quarter against the Miami Dolphins, Purdy dazzled. He quickly took command of the offense and set a tone for the rest of the team’s season. He completed 25-37 passes for 210 yards and two touchdowns. The 49ers went on to dismantle Miami 33-17. The next week saw Purdy making his 1st career start and his opponent was the greatest quarterback of all time…Tom Brady. In the game, not once did Purdy look intimidated as he tore apart the Tampa Bay Buccaneer’s defense en route to a 35-7 blowout win. It was at this moment that Purdy earned the respect of the San Francisco faithful, as the team even tweeted, saying “Mr. Relevant”, referring to the trust they had in their young leader. The 49ers would continue their surge into the postseason. Purdy never once lost in the regular season, as he won all five of his starts to close the year. In the playoffs, Purdy and his team beat the Seattle Seahawks and Dallas Cowboys back-to-back, which put them in the NFC Championship Game against the Philadelphia Eagles. Circumstances took a turn for the worse, as Purdy tore the UCL in his throwing elbow, causing him to exit the game in the first quarter. The 49ers ultimately lost, and Purdy’s magical run seemingly came to an end.
2023 Resurgence and Super Bowl Appearance
Brock Purdy continues to prove the doubters wrong Entering 2023, no one thought Purdy could continue his Cinderella run, until he picked up right where he left off last season. The 49ers stormed out of the gate, starting 5-0 behind Purdy’s strong play. After a midseason struggle, the team rebounded and earned the NFC’s #1 seed for the playoffs. Through most of the year, Purdy earned MVP consideration, as he finished with 4,280 yards and 31 touchdowns. The 49ers won a close game in the Divisional Round against the Green Bay Packers. In the NFC Championship against the Detroit Lions, San Francisco fell behind 24-7. After halftime, the team regrouped, and Purdy was able to lead the 49ers back and prove the doubters wrong once again, something he has been doing his whole career. Now, one of the game’s biggest underdogs finds himself with an opportunity for his name to be etched in the NFL history books forever. Up to this point, he has already done more than anyone in his draft position in history. What makes his story even more amazing is how fast it has been coming together. Two years ago, no NFL fan knew his name, but with a Super Bowl win on Sunday, his name will live on in NFL glory.
