“How can you not cheer for that?” Travis Kelce left heavily impressed by Brock Purdy’s rise from Mr. Irrelevant to Super Bowl starter
Brock Purdy is one of the contenders to win the NFL MVP award this season.
Before Sunday’s Super Bowl LVIII, tight end Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs was questioned about quarterback Brock Purdy of the San Francisco 49ers.
Kelce acknowledged that he has supported Purdy ever since he entered the league and that he has been impressed by the 24-year-old’s ascent to prominence following his “Mr. Irrelevant” tag from the 2022 NFL Draft. Purdy was the final pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, but he has since disproved those who doubted him by earning a starting position with the 49ers and leading the team to a Super Bowl.
Kelce said via Zak Keefer of The Athletic:
How could you not cheer for that, man? And the way he’s done it… the naysayers, how he’s been able to fight through everybody saying what type of QB he is. You can’t help but root for the guy.
Travis Kelce said
He further continued:
Seeing him go through what he had to go through and being where he is, you can appreciate that and respect the hell out of him. And like I said, you can cheer for him and want him to keep having that success, just, you know, maybe not this Sunday.
Travis Kelce added
"How can you not cheer for that?"
Travis Kelce on Brock Purdy's ascension from Mr. Irrelevant to starting in the Super Bowl ❤️ pic.twitter.com/x7J7dG3tGj
— 49ers on NBCS (@NBCS49ers) February 6, 2024
Purdy had a fantastic season this year. The second-year quarterback led the league in passer rating and yards per attempt this season and is one of the contenders to win the league MVP. He will play in his first Super Bowl on Sunday and will hope to become the first quarterback since Steve Young to win the title for the 49ers.
Brock Purdy appreciates the “game manager” comments and takes it as a compliment
Some people have referred to the San Francisco 49ers’ Brock Purdy as a game manager, but others think highly of him beyond that. In 2023, he did lead the league in passing rating (113.0), touchdown percentage (7.0), yards per attempt (9.6), and yards per completion (13.9).
Brock Purdy holding the NFC championship trophy (Via CNN)
But Purdy also had Christian McCaffrey, who is probably going to be the offensive player of the year, on his team, along with playmakers like Deebo Samuel, Trent Williams, George Kittle, and Brandon Aiyuk.
However, Purdy considers the “game manager” tag as a compliment. Purdy said, via David Bonilla of 49erswebzone.com:
I feel like it can be a compliment at times, where it’s like, ‘Alright, you’ve got a guy that can come in and run the system well.
Brock Purdy said
Brock Purdy on being called a game manager:
“If you’re saying I’m a game manager and I don’t look flashy in how I do it, that’s your opinion and that’s ok…
…I think winning at the end of the day is the biggest and most important thing.” pic.twitter.com/0YZINjcoLV
— Coach Yac 🗣 (@Coach_Yac) February 6, 2024
He further continued:
I feel like that’s a compliment. I think you’re doing things right, mentally, and obviously, you’re good enough to be able to hit guys that are open and make plays.
Brock Purdy added
Purdy completed 69.4% of his passes for 4,280 yards with 31 touchdowns and 11 interceptions in 16 starts this season. In two postseason games, he has completed 61.4 percent of his passes for 519 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception.
