Count Rich Eisen among those in favour of Brock Purdy’s recent mega-deal with the San Francisco 49ers.
Few players can generate a media frenzy like the San Francisco 49ers‘ newly minted franchise quarterback, Brock Purdy.
From discussions over the level of his play to the debate about him potentially being a ‘system quarterback’ under head coach Kyle Shanahan, Purdy’s three-year rise has been dogged by constant debate over his merits as a franchise quarterback, particularly as the 49ers looked to negotiate a long-term pact with their signal-caller.
The 49ers ended that noise on Friday evening, signing Purdy to a lucrative, long-term extension that will tie him to the franchise for the next five years.
One prominent NFL analyst has praised the move, and Purdy as a whole.
Rich Eisen praises Brock Purdy
The one-time ESPN and now NFL Network anchor praised Purdy and the contract he landed on his Rich Eisen Show on Saturday, making some choice quotes.
“It’s well deserved. This man is not just an avatar for the 49ers, and how Kyle Shanahan wants the position to be played, he’s an avatar for the entire NFL.” Eisen remarked.
Expanding on his comments, Eisen noted the Hollywood-esque story of Purdy’s rise to fame, including his selection as ‘Mr Irrelevant’ and as the last quarterback in the 2022 NFL Draft.
“The foundation of what makes the NFL so very popular, is that you can go from worst-to-first, and you can do anything with an opportunity when it is given…and that’s what happened for Brock Purdy…he busted the door down, he took the opportunity and never gave it back,” Eisen said.
There’s one hurdle left for Brock Purdy to clear
While there’s certainly merit in Eisen’s comments about Purdy’s story being the very foundation of the National Football League, not unlike the frequently-told story of Tom Brady being a sixth-round pick of the New England Patriots in 2000, there’s one line Purdy has yet to fully cross.
Super Bowl success.
While his playoff history is excellent, and he’s led the San Francisco 49ers to both the fringes of and a loss in the Super Bowl, he’s yet to taste complete success, and while that remains on his resume, the media will no doubt continue to question his credentials.
This is a similar story that followed the likes of John Elway and Dan Marino in the NFL’s golden age, or something that dogs the likes of Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson today.
Now armed with a retooled 49ers roster, and financially and professionally secure, all eyes will be on Purdy as he looks to take that final step into the NFL’s history books.
