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As one of the few players given the dreaded “Mr. Irrelevant” tag to ever succeed in the NFL, Brock Purdy’s story has been told on a loop in his three years with the San Francisco 49ers. Yet, while his rise has been repeatedly documented, Purdy did not reveal how he felt about surpassing incumbent starter Jimmy Garoppolo and first-round pick Trey Lance on the depth chart until recently.
Typically known for his humble persona, Purdy did not hold back when recalling his thoughts on seizing the opportunity to make his unexpected rise. Knowing the road would be rough, Purdy recalled having confidence but not knowing when his chance would come until Garoppolo reclaimed the starting job after Lance fell injured.
“Going up against some dudes that I’ve watched growing up on the practice field and in preseason games sort of gave me some confidence,” Purdy said on the ‘Built 4 More’ podcast. “I was like, ‘Okay, I can do this thing.’ I don’t know how it’s going to go down because there’s guys in front of me with Trey Lance, and then later when Jimmy Garopppolo joined again. But once Jimmy became the starter, I was like, ‘I’m getting some playing time this year, man.'”
Damn: Brock Purdy fired shots at Jimmy Garoppolo when asked when he thought he might become the 49ers starting QB:
"Once Jimmy Garoppolo became the starter (in 2022) | was like I might get some playing time this year. I just don't know when."
(via @Built4MorePod) pic.twitter.com/28HR5Ht87U
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) March 27, 2025
Purdy played nine games as a rookie in 2022 and got his first chance to shine when Garoppolo suffered an early foot injury against the Miami Dolphins in Week 13. He led the 49ers to a 6-0 finish to the season and carried the momentum into the playoffs.
San Francisco improbably made its way to the NFC Championship Game, where an elbow injury effectively took Purdy out and ended the team’s season. Still, his late-season run was enough to give him a leg-up on Lance in the ensuing offseason and permanently secure the job.
Brock Purdy, Jimmy Garoppolo’s contrasting career paths
Three years after Purdy shook up the league as “Mr. Irrelevant,” he is now looking to become one of the highest-paid players in the NFL. Ahead of the final year of his rookie contract, Purdy is still making less than $1 million annually and reportedly wants a substantial pay raise to $40 million per season. While he continues to negotiate with the 49ers, it does not change the fact that his career has fully taken off.
Garoppolo, meanwhile, has spiraled in the opposite direction. Since losing the 49ers’ starting quarterback job to Lance, and eventually Purdy, he has failed to live up to the player some initially projected him to be. The Las Vegas Raiders gave Garoppolo one final chance as a starter in 2023 to disastrous results. Garoppolo quickly flamed out — throwing just seven touchdowns to nine interceptions in seven games — forcing the team to turn to sixth-round draft pick Aidan O’Connell.
The 2025 offseason says all there needs to be on where both quarterbacks are in their respective careers. As Purdy negotiates with the 49ers for a lucrative contract, Garoppolo re-signed with the Los Angeles Rams on a one-year, $4 million deal to backup Matthew Stafford.
More must-reads:
- It's time for the Bengals to meet their disgruntled star halfway
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- The 'NFL stadium names' quiz
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'He Should Get One': Steelers' Ben Roethlisberger Clamors For A New Contract For Key Piece In Pittsburgh
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How NBA Executives Feel About Josh Giddey's Upcoming Bulls Contract
Last season, Josh Giddey took a big leap after being traded from the Oklahoma City Thunder. With the Chicago Bulls, the Australian point guard was instrumental in getting them to the Play-In Tournament, going 39-43. The No. 10 seed was somewhat expected, but the record was better than people anticipated. Giddey averaged 14.6 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 7.2 assists per game, taking his offense to another level. His shooting splits improved as well, and his overall leap has resulted in the 22-year-old asking for big money amid restricted free agency. Still unsigned, Giddey is reportedly desiring at least $8 million more than what the Bulls are currently offering. In a recent article from Fred Katz and Joel Lorenzi of The Athletic, NBA executives gave their thoughts on what they think Giddey is worth and the overall contract dispute. One executive believed $100 million over four years was fair. “Giddey is the anomaly because he might be good enough to be a four-year player,” the executive said. “Nobody wants to go with long-term contracts because everybody wants this idea of flexibility. You wanna have the ability to (say), ‘You know what? My team’s not very good. Let’s pivot.’” Some other executives proposed three-year deals, ranging from $54 million to $75 million in total money. Cap space around the NBA has become extremely limited, and Chicago may not be willing to make such a long-term commitment to the former lottery pick. One person polled cited the Patrick Williams contract as a reference point for the Bulls. “Chicago gave (Williams) five years, $90 million with a player option,” the executive said. “He didn’t show much and got that deal entirely based on them drafting him top five and (his) perceived potential.”
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Green Bay Packers: Players Rally Around Teammate After Matt LaFleur Outburst
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NFL insider shares worrisome update on Micah Parsons' contract dispute with Cowboys
With a new NFL season comes another contract dispute between Jerry Jones and one of the Dallas Cowboys' star players. In 2019, it was running back Ezekiel Elliott. Then there was quarterback Dak Prescott and wide receiver CeeDee Lamb in 2024, and now it's defensive end Micah Parsons in 2025. Those first three all got their wish and received massive paydays without missing any game action, which has many believing that the same movie will play out with Parsons. However, in the moment, Parsons and the Cowboys don't seem to be aligned in their thinking, and that has only been magnified by ESPN insider Adam Schefter's latest update on the situation. "I would say right now we're nowhere on that deal. I would say right now we are further away from a deal in late July/early August than we were in late March/early April. The two sides have gone backwards, not forwards. I don't think they're speaking very much these days, if at all," Schefter said. "This sounds different to me. This sounds a little bit more personal from both sides. It sounds like Dallas is upset with the fact that it felt like it was getting closer to a deal, and then that deal went sideways. And I think Micah Parsons feels like this deal should've been done. I don't think Micah is real happy with them; I don't think they're real happy with him. I don't think anybody is real happy with anybody. And I don't think there's a deal that's being discussed right now, not to mention being close," Schefter added. Certainly not the update Cowboys fans were hoping to hear on Tuesday afternoon. As we know, Parsons is entering the final season of his rookie contract on a fifth-year player option, which Dallas exercised in April of 2024. The superstar pass rusher is set to earn just over $24 million in 2025-26. The 26-year-old has been participating in Cowboys training camp, though he has voiced his displeasure with the current state of contract negotiations both in interviews and on social media. Parsons is one of, if not the best, pass rushers in football, having racked up 12-plus sacks in all four seasons to begin his NFL career. His combination of strength, speed and pure athleticism is a nightmare for opposing offenses, and you can understand why he wants to be paid for it. There's no doubt that the recent deals signed by defensive end Myles Garrett of the Cleveland Browns and outside linebacker T.J. Watt of the Pittsburgh Steelers added fuel to the fire for Parsons. Garrett and Watt will both make over $40 million per season moving forward while already being 30 and 31 years old, respectively. Expectations should remain that Jerry Jones will eventually pony up and pay his franchise player, but reports like these definitely don't help anyone in this situation.
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