Brock Purdy may not have finished Super Bowl night as a champion, but he more than validated himself in defeat. The San Francisco 49ers may have come up short against the Kansas City Chiefs, but Purdy's performance proved that he is more than just a 'game manager.'
Many critics have labeled Purdy as a game manager, suggesting that he can only lead the team to an extent. However, in this Super Bowl matchup, Purdy showed that he can go toe-to-toe with the best quarterbacks in the game. He matched Patrick Mahomes, widely regarded as one of the greatest quarterbacks of this era, until the very last possession of the game. Purdy delivered a mistake-free performance, giving his team the lead twice during the fourth quarter and overtime when the game was tied.
Purdy's final statistics for the night were impressive. He completed 22 of 38 passes for 255 yards, throwing one touchdown with no turnovers and taking just one sack against the Chiefs' formidable defensive front. His ability to protect the ball and make accurate passes showcased his quarterbacking skills.
If there is any criticism to be made, it is that Purdy failed to convert late field goals into touchdowns to seal the game. On two occasions, the Niners settled for field goals instead of finding the end zone while in Kansas City territory. Purdy took responsibility for this, acknowledging that he failed to put his team in a position to score touchdowns.
However, it is unfair to solely attribute the loss to Purdy's missed opportunities. The Niners made crucial mistakes like a botched punt return and a blocked extra point that proved costly. Additionally, the defense failed to stop Mahomes on a fourth down, and despite holding a 10-point lead at one point, they couldn't maintain it.
The label of 'game manager' assigned to Purdy is often used in a disparaging manner, tainted by his draft history. However, it is worth noting that even Tom Brady, regarded as one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time, was labeled a game manager early in his career. The difference is that it was seen in a positive light. Purdy's achievements, including two fourth-quarter comebacks in the playoffs and leading his team from a 17-point deficit in the NFC Championship Game, deserve recognition.
Comparisons to Brady are not to belittle his accomplishments but rather to highlight the fact that Purdy is actually further along in his development than Brady was at this stage. In just his second year, and his first full season as a starter after recovering from a serious injury, Purdy led the league in several passing categories. He achieved the top passer rating, yards per completion, and yards per attempt, surpassing even the records set by legendary quarterbacks Joe Montana and Steve Young in the franchise.
Thus, labeling Purdy as merely a game manager is unjust. A game manager is typically seen as a quarterback who cannot lead comebacks and relies on the team's perfect performance to win games. Purdy, however, defies this notion by leading the NFL in multiple passing categories in his first full season as a starter. Critics may argue that his success is a result of playing on a stacked team with talented players and a respected coach like Kyle Shanahan. Or they may point to his low draft position as evidence of his limitations.
Former NFL quarterback Christian Ponder, however, puts it best when he questions the negative connotation associated with being a game manager. He emphasizes that managing the game and minimizing turnovers is what a quarterback is supposed to do. Purdy has performed his job remarkably well, leading his team to the Super Bowl.
While some may continue to view Purdy as a game manager, his performance in this Super Bowl proves otherwise. He has demonstrated that he is not just a game manager but a top quarterback. The loss may overshadow this fact in the eyes of many, but it does not diminish the talent and skill that Purdy exhibited on the field.
