49ers GM John Lynch explains confidence in Brock Purdy

San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch explained Friday why he believes Brock Purdy is the right quarterback to guide the franchise to its first Super Bowl title since the 1994 season. 

"I think if you want to kind of encapsulate his character, just watch his journey on this rehab," Lynch said about Purdy during an appearance on San Francisco sports radio station KNBR, per David Bonilla of 49ers WebZone. "It wasn't easy, but he focused on each and every day, and trying to max out that particular day." 

Purdy entered the NFL as the final pick of the 2022 draft and began his rookie season as third on the depth chart beneath Week 1 starter Trey Lance and veteran Jimmy Garoppolo. After both Lance and Garoppolo were lost to campaign-ending injuries, Purdy emerged beginning last December as more than just an emergency option and guided the 49ers to seven straight wins (including the playoffs) before he went down with a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow during the NFC Championship Game. 

Purdy didn't have elbow surgery until March, and it was initially thought he could miss the entire 2023 campaign. Instead, the 23-year-old recovered on time to start the Week 1 game at the Pittsburgh Steelers this Sunday. 

"And that's what Brock has done since he's been here," Lynch continued. "I think when you do that, you have the requisite talent, which Brock does, you have the requisite mind, which Brock does, the competitiveness, the athleticism, all those things, and you attack each day like he does, it gives you an opportunity to be really good."

49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan recently revealed he became convinced as far back as December that Purdy "could lead the team to the playoffs." San Francisco let Garoppolo leave the club via free agency in March and later traded Lance to the Dallas Cowboys, leaving Purdy as the undisputed starter ahead of free-agency signing Sam Darnold.

"...The thing people keep asking me is, 'Where were you most surprised?' And it was his ability to extend and make plays on his own as well," Lynch added about Purdy. "He's not just a guy...He's a playmaker, as well. The thing in this league, and Brock knows this, you got to earn it every year. You start back at zero, and you got to go earn it. And I'm really proud of him, the way he attacked this injury." 

As of Friday afternoon, OddsChecker listed the 49ers as second among the betting favorites at +400 odds to represent the NFC in Super Bowl LVIII. If San Francisco falls short of that goal due to questionable or even poor quarterback play, both Lynch and Shanahan will have difficult questions to answer come January.