For years, Brock Purdy has been one of the most controversial players in the NFL.
On the one hand, he has solid numbers and has executed the San Francisco 49ers offense almost perfectly.
On the other hand, he hasn’t necessarily delivered when his superstar teammates haven’t been available.
That’s why he’s often been called a system quarterback, and why the 49ers drew some criticism for the big-money contract they gave him.
Nevertheless, Purdy has the full support of his teammates.
Asked about what makes Purdy a special player, running back Christian McCaffrey gushed about the QB’s ability to improvise.
“Playing with Brock is so special because he does such a good job of just doing his job, but then people forget how good he is at making plays that are unscripted, playing with instinct and swagger. That’s what make him so special: his ability to make any throw on the field, do it on time, but also those unscripted plays, scrambles, making plays with his feet, arms, some of those things you just can’t teach,” McCaffrey said, via NFL Network.
"Playing with Brock is so special." – @CMC_22 @DCarr8 | @MikeGarafolo | @49ers pic.twitter.com/KEuUci1UpW
— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) August 5, 2025
Purdy is never afraid to take risks, and while that’s not always a good thing when it comes to a quarterback, he usually knows when to be aggressive.
The Niners made a bold decision when they chose to give him a big contract this offseason.
They could’ve kept him around by using the franchise tag, but they believe he’s the right guy going forward.
Then again, that will also shift the narrative around him.
He’s no longer the ultimate bargain, and with big money also comes big expectations.
The Niners struggled last season, and Purdy didn’t look nearly as sharp when his teammates were sidelined.
They enter this season with major questions on offense, and it’ll be his opportunity to silence the critics once and for all.
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