“Mr. Unimportant”: The football fairy tale of Brock Purdy

On the way from “Mister Irrelevant” to the San Francisco 49ers’ hope, Brock Purdy has passed every test so far. But the next one is even bigger than anything the 23-year-old quarterback knows: a playoff game in the NFL. 259 days after the 49ers selected him as the last football player in the draft in April and he was traditionally given the title “Mr. Unimportant”, the Seattle Seahawks will be guests at Levi's Stadium on Saturday (22.30:XNUMX p.m. CET). Gates of San Francisco. But Purdy plays it cool.

“I’m not trying to make it bigger than it is,” he said. “Obviously it's more than that,” he added, but “all the guys in the dressing room have my back and we've all grown together and are ready for what lies ahead.”

That's how Americans love it Fast forward over the past few weeks, Purdy has gone from an unknown nobody in the back of the squad to the main character in a promotion fairytale that Americans and the US media love. Coming on early without preparation after an injury to Jimmy Garoppolo, he led the 49ers to a 33:17 win against the Miami Dolphins in early December.

Brock Purdy shows off big time. © GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / EZRA SHAW

The following week he made his debut in the starting lineup - against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers against the quarterback legend par excellence: Tom Brady. There was another win, as was the case in the following four games until the end of the NFL main round. Thanks to Purdy, the 49ers are still a serious candidate for victory in the Super Bowl without their two playmakers planned as number one and number two. Because before Garoppolo, Trey Lance had already been injured.

Purdy was actually only in the squad for testing purposes The 49ers had already selected Lance third in the NFL draft a year before Purdy; he was supposed to lead the traditional team into a successful future and create something that the popular but often criticized Garoppolo was denied with the defeat against the Kansas City Chiefs in February 2020 remained: win the sixth title and end the drought that had lasted since the success at the end of the 1994 season.

Purdy was actually only intended to be the third quarterback. © GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / JEFF BOTTARI

Purdy on the other hand? The replacement was planned for replacement purposes and at most for testing purposes in training. And now? The experts and columnists in the US media write that the 49ers have never played coach Kyle Shanahan's ideal football as much as in these six games with Purdy.

Purdy has collected 13 touchdown passes, and his rating as a quarterback after the first five games as a starter is better than that of Chiefs superstar Patrick Mahomes in his early days - only the great Kurt Warner had an even better rating at the beginning of his career.

In game immediately Despite starting out as a nobody, Purdy already has the demeanor and self-image of an experienced professional. “As soon as he came into the game, he was our guy,” recalled Mike McGlinchey, who plays in front of Purdy and keeps opponents away from him. “Whether you’re a rookie, a five-year veteran or a 10-year veteran, it makes no difference, you’re the starting quarterback and you have to do the starting quarterback’s job. And he did that to an incredible degree.”

The miraculous journey shouldn't end against the Seahawks on Saturday, but should really get going. With ten wins from the last ten main round games, the 49ers are currently the strongest team in the league and, in addition to Purdy, who was voted “Offensive Rookie of the Month”, they also have the recently outstanding Christian McCaffrey in their ranks.

The newcomer, who was acquired during the season from the Carolina Panthers, collected seven touchdowns in the last six weeks of the main round and drove opponents crazy with his skills as a running back and receiver. He and tight end George Kittle are among Purdy's most important helpers on the way to passing this next test and keeping the dream of a happy ending in this football fairy tale alive.

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“Mr. Unimportant”: The football fairy tale of Brock Purdy

From the farthest corner of the squad into the spotlight of a Super Bowl candidate: the past few weeks have turned Brock Purdy's life upside down. Will the NFL fairytale lead all the way to the final?

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