On the “Built 4 More” podcast, San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy opened up about his journey to the NFL — from being overlooked in high school to now standing on the edge of a massive contract extension.
Purdy talked about how his career has been built on resilience, hard work, and a drive to prove people wrong.
Brock Purdy Opens Up About Being Overlooked Throughout Journey to NFL
On the faith-based podcast, Purdy shared the adversity he’s faced since his days at Perry High School in Gilbert, Ariz.
“My whole story has been just being overlooked, not good enough,” Purdy said. “And for me, deep down inside, I’m like, I know I can play and compete at this level, this level, this level. And so, high school, it was the case. And then I became a starter, and we went to the state championship.”
Purdy’s Surge at Perry High School in Arizona
As a three-year starter at Perry, Purdy threw for nearly 9,000 yards and more than 100 touchdowns in 35 games. After his senior season in 2017, he was named Gatorade Arizona Football Player of the Year and earned High School Player of the Year honors from The Arizona Republic.
Despite his success, Purdy was rated as a three-star prospect by 247Sports, and most major college programs passed on him. He eventually received offers from a dozen schools, including Texas A&M, Illinois, UCF, and Boise State, and had visits with Alabama and Oregon State.
“I got recruited very late. And then all of a sudden, I barely get an offer at the end, and I go to Iowa State,” Purdy recalled. “And then I was the third-string guy going into that — overlooked. And then I became the starter halfway through that season [in 2018], and then for four more years.”
Purdy Sets School Records at Iowa State
At Iowa State, Purdy led the Big 12 in completions in three of his four seasons and twice led the conference in passing yards and yards per game. In 2019, he set 18 single-season school records and was named second-team All-Big 12. Over his Cyclones career, he set school records with 81 passing touchdowns and 12,170 yards, while also earning second-team Academic All-America honors.
Brock Purdy’s Path to Mr. Irrelevant in the 2022 NFL Draft
At the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine, Purdy received a 5.57 grade, typically reserved for a “priority undrafted free agent.” He ranked below Malik Willis, Matt Corral, Kenny Pickett, Desmond Ridder, Sam Howell, Bailey Zappe, and seven undrafted quarterbacks. Still, Next Gen Stats ranked him seventh among all QB prospects.
NFL analyst Lance Zierlein wrote in his scouting report that Purdy “needs a play-action based offense where he can rely on timing over release quickness and arm strength,” adding, “throwing is more of a chore than a talent thanks to a labored release.”
Purdy reflected on being picked last in the 2022 NFL Draft, earning the title “Mr. Irrelevant.”
“And then I got drafted last. So, all these people tell me that you’re not going to be good enough, but deep down inside, this whole time, I’m like, just wait until I get an opportunity to compete.”
Purdy’s Stock Rises in the NFL
Purdy’s rookie season in 2022 was nothing short of remarkable. After injuries hit the 49ers’ quarterback room, he stepped up and went undefeated in five starts, leading the team to a deep playoff run. He finished third in AP Offensive Rookie of the Year voting.
In 2023, he led the league in completion percentage and earned Pro Bowl honors. He also received MVP, Offensive Player of the Year, and Comeback Player of the Year votes after returning from an elbow injury suffered in the 2022 NFC Championship Game.
The 2024 season was a rough one for San Francisco. Injuries piled up, and the 49ers finished 6-11. Despite the team’s struggles, Purdy landed seventh in PFSN’s QB rankings, with analyst Ben Rolfe writing, “2022’s Mr. Irrelevant has done everything he can to prove he deserves a big-time deal.”
Why Brock Purdy’s Potential Contract Extension Is So Controversial
With Purdy entering the final year of his rookie contract, he’s in line for a major payday. But the rumored numbers have sparked debate.
Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer reported the 49ers offered $45 million per year, which former Super Bowl champ James Jones called “disrespectful.”
On “The Herd with Colin Cowherd,” Nick Wright said he’d offer Pudy such a team-friendly deal that he didn’t expect him to take: “I really do want to see him this year without a super team around him. If he looks like he did last year… that’s simply a player you cannot pay $55+ million.”
On “The Facility,” former NFL linebacker Emmanuel Acho urged the 49ers to pay him now, warning, “If you wait again, it’s another $10 million, it’s another $12 million, it’s another $15 million.”
Sports Illustrated’s Grant Cohn argued the 49ers should trade Purdy and sign 41-year-old Aaron Rodgers, saying, “Purdy is not an elite quarterback — never has been and probably never will be.”
FS1 host Craig Carton also believes Purdy should be traded, pointing out that the 49ers are entering a rebuild and could get a king’s ransom from a QB-needy team near the top of the draft.
Even if Purdy doesn’t cash in big just yet, the league is starting to accept what he’s been proving since day one — resilience, belief, and a whole lot of fight.
