QB Brock Purdy Press Conference

QB Brock Purdy

Press Conference – August 16, 2024

San Francisco 49ers

Head coach Kyle Shanahan was disappointed in the rookie shows the last few years and he wants these guys to practice. What did you do for the rookie show and were you a disappointment or were you good?

“My group was a disappointment, yeah. I went up there, I impersonated [WR] Jauan Jennings. We had some other guys, impersonate some other guys. We acted as if we were doing a spelling bee and the concept and the idea was good, but the execution was not. So, we got booed off. Not a good memory for me. But yeah, we’re hopefully going to have a good rookie class come in and do some good performances for us this year.”

TE George Kittle recently made fun of all of us for wearing bad shoes. What kind of shoes are you wearing?

“I’m wearing Adidas Ultra Boosts. Zoom in on them, shout out, Adidas. I think they’re pretty good, like in George’s eyes.”

As far as the rookies go, when you think back to when you were a rookie and you see there’s like four or five guys that might be able to contribute Week One out of this class. Is it a pretty impressive group?

“Yeah, I think so. Just the way they’ve come in, their mindset, they’ve come in and they’re willing to learn and they’ve come in and competed really well, and no one has an ego or anything. Obviously, [president of football operations/general manager] John and [head coach] Kyle [Shanahan], our organization’s going to draft guys that fit well with our culture, and they’ve done just that. So they’ve come in and done a really well job. Obviously, we still have a couple more weeks and a couple games left for preseason, so they’ve still got to continue to show and prove that they can play with us and our organization and we’re going to help them with that. So, I’m excited. We’re going to have some numbers of rookies playing this year.”

You were pushing the ball down the field a lot today. Was that a point of emphasis on this practice? Were you trying to get the ball down?

“Yeah, trying to take some shots and connect with [WR] Deebo [Samuel] on a couple deep ones. Missed them a couple times and almost connected on some. But yeah, we’re trying to push the ball down the field and just continue to build that chemistry.”

What do you want to get from Sunday in terms of playing time and reps for you as a player, what do you want to get from the game?

“Yeah, for me, just to be able to get into a rhythm. Obviously going into the game, studying and preparing like it’s any other game. So getting in that kind of mindset, warming up and then getting out there and getting clean looks. How can I be efficient with my feet in rhythm and hitting guys and getting completion. So just feeling the game environment. It’s a little bit different from practice. So that’s the goal.”

You didn’t have joint practices this week so are you excited to get to go up against somebody that is not your teammate?

“Yeah, it’s always nice when you get to go up against a different look, different guys and stuff. So we definitely missed that this week. But at the same time, we’re doing it for the right reasons. So I’m excited for Sunday to be able to get some new looks and being able to run our offense against guys that haven’t seen it every day. So that’s also going to be nice, but get in, be efficient, be clean with it and compete.”

Minnesota Vikings QB Sam Darnold at Vikings camp attributed your success to what he’s calling meticulous preparation and that you leave no stone unturned. Where does that come from? Is that Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell, is that somebody in high school? Where did you develop your practice habits?

“Yeah, probably all of it. From high school to coach Campbell and [quarterbacks coach/passing game coordinator] coach Gordon at Iowa State, just the way that we prepped and not wanting to skip a play that we have on the call sheet, like going over every single play, what my read is, what situations we could get into and what would my answer be. And so, that’s what we do every night before the game. And so Sam, [QB] Brandon [Allen] and I would sit down and we’d go over every situation with every play and what my answer would be. He helped me tremendously with my prep and we all bounced ideas off each other and what we could get and what we need to be aware of. So had a great group last year and Sam contributed so much to our success as a team man. So I know that he probably took away stuff like that. But I also learned so much from Sam and what he brought to the table and how he prepared. So it goes both ways, but I’m excited for him.”

Are you getting hit up by people about WR Brandon Aiyuk and are you getting anxious at this point?

“Family and friends will hit me up and say, ‘Hey, what’s going on?’ And I’m sort of sitting here hearing from all the other news sources and stuff, but it is what it is. My answer’s the same with how it was before. I love B.A. and I want nothing but the best for him and I’m not in the business side of things. So I’m sort of sitting here waiting as well. But you know, hopefully something gets settled soon.”

I feel like it’s the most in command and loudest your voice has been in terms of in the huddle and running things during this camp. Not that it wasn’t before, but just more so now. Is there a point where you feel more comfortable in there? Have you kind of felt that? How do you kind of get to that point where, ‘Hey, this is now my huddle?’

“Man, I think just going into year three with a lot of similar faces, and so the relationships that we’ve all been able to develop have gotten deeper. The way we talk to each other in the locker room and at lunch and just around. We’re around each other a lot. And so, I feel like we’ve all been able to be ourselves. And so, once we get out in the field, it’s the same thing. We have a job that we got to do. There’s a standard that we’ve got to play with and play at. And so I’m able to talk to guys and because I have a real relationship with them, it’s not just all business. We get out there and we want to play ball and win, but I care for these guys. They care for me. So with that, I’m able to sort of speak up a little bit more now.”

Was it harder in the past? Do you look around at some of the names and the stars that you have now with you? Did you have timid moments in the first couple years?

“Yes and no. I knew that I had a job to do. So with that being said, I had to go in and talk and communicate with everybody. It didn’t matter, what they had done in the past or this or that, but at the same time, like rookie me getting in the huddle and seeing [T] Trent [Williams] and Deebo, it’s like, dang. So I wasn’t always saying a whole lot. But yeah, like I said, over the years now the relationships that we’ve all been able to build, we’re humans. We’re just boys, we’re just like anybody else where we build relationships and we trust each other and then we go out in the field and we try to win. So I feel like that’s just the difference. That’s the evolution going into year three now and we’re all continuing to grow with each other.”

You’ve been out there with and without Trent. What’s the biggest difference in your game without him?

“We’ve been in camp. So it’s hard to tell. But for me at camp, it’s been about going through reads, being efficient and doing my job as a quarterback. Not dropping back, worrying about who’s blitzing off the left edge now that Trent’s not in. I trust [OL] Jaylon Moore right now. He’s done a great job. And so for me, that’s my mindset with it. So at the same time, I love Trent. Obviously would love him to be here with us and everything but I’m not dropping back, concerned about pass protection all the time. I have a job to do and I have to read the defense and go through my reads as well and do my job well. So that’s where we’re at. Hopefully that gets settled as well. But obviously I love Trent, would love to have him back. He’s the best in the game.”

With your experience last week at TE George Kittle and wife Claire Kittle’s house, does that give you ideas about what you might want to do maybe later in your career when you have some more money?

“Yeah, dude, George has got a sweet setup, just in terms of his job being an NFL tight end and in the offseason he gets to go home, enjoy home, and then obviously be able to work on his craft right there with everything that he needs. So it’s pretty sweet to see. Obviously, the field and the gym and just his family and friends out there, it was a pretty sweet setup. So who knows, what [Brock Purdy’s wife] Jenna [Purdy] and I are going to do. We’re taking it one day at a time. Obviously, I train in Jacksonville with my guys down there. For right now, that’s where my mind’s at. But kudos to George. It’s pretty sweet though.”

You’re established, it’s year three for you and the guy that you came in with, OL Nick Zakelj is a big camp for him. He’s trying to establish himself as a center. How do you think he’s doing at center and how cool would it be for him to establish himself and make the team this year?

“I think he’s done a great job. He’s smart and at center man, you’ve got to make the right calls and put the offensive line and everybody in the right situation. Obviously, [OL]Jake Brendel’s done that and Jake’s one of the smartest guys on the team. So Nick has learned from him a lot. And when Nick goes out there now, I feel like there’s more confidence than obviously he ever had. Going into year three, he is more comfortable with the system and his calls and he’s quick with it now. So he’s smart, reliable and obviously he’s got a great opportunity in front of him. So I’m excited for him and I want nothing but the best for Nick.”