San Francisco, California — Every offseason seems to bring a new reason for doubting Brock Purdy. Some critics point to the lingering “system quarterback” narrative that has followed him since his Mr. Irrelevant draft night.
Others question his arm talent, wonder about his durability after past injuries, or ask whether San Francisco can sustain success in a loaded NFC West. Yet inside the 49ers organization, those concerns barely register.
One of the biggest reasons Brock Purdy is positioned for another leap forward is surprisingly simple: he genuinely does not care what anyone thinks. Veteran tight end George Kittle recently highlighted that mentality while explaining why he remains convinced Purdy can lead the 49ers back to championship contention.
“He does not care what people think. That is a superpower in this league,” Kittle said. “It gives him the ability to go out there and play free, play loose. He cherishes it.”
That confidence has become one of the defining traits of Purdy’s development since taking over as starter in 2022. Despite constant scrutiny from analysts, sportsbooks, and opposing fan bases, the quarterback has never appeared interested in proving people wrong.
Instead, he has focused on improving his game and leading the 49ers back into the NFC contender conversation.
The results speak for themselves. Purdy finished the 2025 season with 32 total touchdowns, putting up numbers that rivaled several established stars across the league.
One year earlier, he accounted for 28 touchdowns and continued establishing himself as one of the NFL’s most productive young quarterbacks. Perhaps even more impressive is how he performs when games are on the line.
Purdy has already recorded 11 career game-winning drives and earned a reputation as one of the league’s most dependable quarterbacks in clutch situations.
Now he enters the 2026 season with arguably the best supporting cast of his career. The return of star running back Christian McCaffrey and wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, paired with the reliable George Kittle, gives San Francisco the explosive playmakers and mismatch creators the offense needs.
Together they should create favorable matchups across the field while opening up more opportunities for Purdy to attack defenses.
The 49ers also expect head coach Kyle Shanahan to help accelerate Purdy’s growth by continuing to simplify certain aspects of the offense and giving him greater freedom at the line of scrimmage through pre-snap adjustments.
San Francisco understands that repeating their success and contending for a Super Bowl will not be easy. The schedule is difficult, expectations are higher than ever, and every opponent will be eager to knock the 49ers off their perch. But within the organization, there is little concern that Purdy will shrink under the pressure.
If anything, teammates believe pressure fuels him.
“A coach told me a long time ago that you have to be a little screwed up to be good at this, and we all are in some shape and form,” Kittle said. “You look at Brock in the huddle, you see that fire in his eyes and you know this guy has got something special to him.”
For the third consecutive season, many outsiders remain skeptical about San Francisco’s chances. The 49ers are used to it by now. And the biggest reason San Francisco should feel confident is the same reason critics remain frustrated: Brock Purdy simply does not care what they think.
