Super Bowl LVIII quarterback Brock Purdy has been a hero to Chiefs coach Andy Reid for a long time; Reid has a lot of respect for Purdy, who is 24 years old, and has been around since before Purdy became an NFL sensation.
During his Thursday press conference, Reid said that his respect for Purdy dates back to when the 49ers quarterback was a student at Iowa State University. Reid cited a statement made by Cyclones coach Matt Campbell on the 49ers quarterback as an example.
He's [Purdy] a heck of a player," Reid informed the press. 'This man has altered our program,' the head coach remarked as we watched him play on a Saturday afternoon when I was a student at the university
Changing an entire software is a huge deal. Indeed, that is his role; he plays that role in the NFL. Last week, he was just as effective running the ball as he was with his arms. He has excellent football skills, is intelligent, and has excellent intuition.
San Francisco has won 24 of Purdy's 30 games started as quarterback since he took over for the 24-year-old in December 2022. The 49ers went 4-1 in postseason play in 2022, with their only defeat coming in the NFC Championship Game due to Purdy tearing his UCL on the first play of the game.
When looking at Purdy's record across his first 30 starts in the NFL, his.800 winning % puts him in exceptional company. For context, in his first 30 starts as a quarterback for the Chiefs, Patrick Mahomes, widely considered to be one of the all-time greats, had a victory percentage of.733 (22-8).
Not only that, but there are many more parallels. In his first full season as a starter, Mahomes lost the conference championship game. In his second season, under center, he reached the Super Bowl, much like Purdy did in 2023.
In San Francisco's exciting NFC title game comeback victory over the Detroit Lions, Purdy had an outstanding second half, accomplishing a rare accomplishment that had not been done in 30 years, and helped the 49ers surge back for a historic victory after a tough first half.
With a Super Bowl showdown looming on the horizon against Reid and Mahomes, two guaranteed Hall of Famers, Purdy has an opportunity to cement his place in NFL history and bring a remarkable journey to a close.
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