In the cutthroat world of the NFL, where thousands of players dream of hearing their name called in the NFL Draft, Brock Purdy was once “Mr. Irrelevant” – the nickname given to the very last pick, No. 262 in the seventh round of the 2022 draft. Most people thought the journey of this quarterback from Iowa State would end right there, like a dream quietly fading away. But that very night, a phone call from the San Francisco 49ers changed everything forever.
Purdy has shared the memory in interviews since then, his voice thick with emotion:
“I was asleep when the phone rang in the middle of the night. On the other end was Mr. John Lynch. He apologized for calling so late, then said, ‘We find you very relevant.’ I could hear Shanahan and York congratulating me. I tried to prank my family, but the tears just kept coming – we all hugged and cried tears of joy. I will never forget that moment, because it changed my life forever.”
John Lynch’s words, “We find you very relevant,” were more than just comfort – they were an affirmation that Purdy, despite being the final pick, truly mattered to the 49ers. Moments later, head coach Kyle Shanahan and owner Jed York jumped on the line to offer their congratulations, creating a warm, hopeful instant. Purdy tried to stay calm, pretending to be disappointed so he could surprise his family – telling them “it’s just a call from another team” – but the overwhelming happiness broke through. When he finally revealed the truth, the house erupted: parents, siblings, friends embraced, crying with pure joy, shouting as if he’d been selected in the first round.
From that fateful moment, Purdy’s journey from underdog to elite NFL quarterback unfolded like a fairy tale. Starting as QB3, he was thrust into the starter role late in the 2022 season after injuries to Jimmy Garoppolo and Trey Lance. He immediately went 5-0 as a starter, leading the 49ers to the NFC Championship with a rookie passer rating of 119.4 in his first five games – the highest since Kurt Warner in 1999. He earned PFWA All-Rookie honors and instantly became a symbol of resilience.
In 2023, Purdy exploded: he led the NFL in passer rating (113.0), completed 69.4% of his passes, threw for 4,280 yards (a franchise record), and tossed 31 touchdowns (top four in 49ers history) with only 11 interceptions. He guided the team to Super Bowl LVIII and earned his first Pro Bowl nod, establishing himself as one of the league’s most efficient quarterbacks.
The 2024 season further proved his talent: 3,864 yards, 20 touchdowns, a 96.1 passer rating, plus career-high rushing production. Even in a challenging year for the team, he ranked near the top in QBR and yards per attempt, showing he wasn’t just a product of the system – he was the system’s engine.
In 2025, despite playing only nine games (possibly due to injury or rest), Purdy remained elite: 69.4% completion rate, 2,167 yards, 20 touchdowns (an exceptional TD rate), and a 100.5 passer rating (top-three QBR among starters). His deep-ball accuracy, multi-TD performances, and ability to extend plays with his legs solidified his status as a top-tier quarterback.
Today, he is the irreplaceable cornerstone of the San Francisco 49ers – the franchise quarterback locked in with a five-year, $265 million extension signed in May 2025 (average annual value of $53 million, $182.55 million guaranteed), the richest contract in team history. From “Mr. Irrelevant” to a symbol of perseverance, luck, and undeniable talent, Purdy reminds NFL fans that sometimes the biggest dreams begin with the smallest moment: a late-night apology, a quiet affirmation that “you are very relevant,” and unbreakable belief.
His story doesn’t just move people – it inspires every player who has ever been overlooked. Brock Purdy: living proof that you should never give up.
