It’s been quite the nine-month journey for San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy, to say the least.
Purdy was the final draft pick of the 2022 NFL Draft, hence the “Mr. Irrelevant” nickname. Fast forward nine months later, and Purdy has his 49ers playing in the NFC Championship Game for the third time in four years.
An interesting comment on Purdy from legendary Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban resurfaced ahead of the 49ers’ Divisional Round clash against the rival Dallas Cowboys.
Matt Barrows of The Athletic spoke to Purdy’s former high school coach, Preston Jones, after Purdy was drafted by the 49ers last year. Jones recalled the not-so-friendly evaluation Purdy claimed to have received from Saban:
“Brock told me, ‘He didn’t really know me, Coach.’ (Saban said), ‘You’re below average in height. Your arm strength is whatever. Your accuracy is average.’ And as soon as he mentioned the accuracy, Brock knew right away: ‘This guy doesn’t know me.’ Because, if anything, that’s his strength. He goes, ‘Coach, he didn’t know who I was.'”
To be fair to Saban, expectations for Purdy were never exactly all that high in college or at the NFL level. There’s a reason he was the final pick in last year’s draft, after all.
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But Purdy defied expectations after taking over as the starting quarterback in Week 14, following a foot injury to starter Jimmy Garoppolo. Purdy led the 49ers to a 35-7 blowout win over Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Levi’s Stadium in Week 14.
Here we are six weeks later, and Purdy still has yet to lose an NFL game. So much for having “average” accuracy and “whatever” arm strength.
