QB Brock Purdy Press Conference

QB Brock Purdy

Press Conference – September 8, 2026

San Francisco 49ers

The average male sleeps seven to eight hours a night. The fact that the Rams have brought on Los Angeles Rams DL Myles Garrett and Los Angeles Rams DL Aaron Donald, what’s your sleep score currently at?

“No, I’m still at eight hours (laughter). It’s a great question, but obviously those guys playing together and stuff, they’re really good players. It’s going to be fun to go up against them. Hopefully that answers your question.”

Is there a level of excitement for all the players being here in Melbourne? You’re potentially being in front of 100,000 people. How’s the team feeling about that prospect?

“We’re excited about it. Obviously, I feel like in college we’ve played in bigger stadiums and stuff, like pushing anywhere from 90 to 100, occasionally. But in the NFL, to be able to play in front of 100, it’s going to be the first time for a lot of us for an NFL game. So, really, really excited about that. We’re hearing that a lot of the Australians here are passionate about sports and everything. So, for us to be able to come out and play the first NFL game out here in front of them is going to be really special. Hopefully they all get really hyped and love the game and we can put on a good show for them.”

What’s it been like to have TE George Kittle back out there with you?

“It’s been awesome. Obviously, George is very electric with his personality and all that, what he brings to the team, but just seeing him back out on the field running around and how explosive he is as a tight end, it feels really good to have him back. He’s a Hall-of-Fame caliber player and he’s going to make plays anytime he’s out there. So, for me as a quarterback to have him back out there feels really good.”

Being in Nashville, you were probably privy to a little more than others in terms of seeing his recovery. Did anything stand out to you from that experience of being around him as he was coming back?

“Obviously, George did a bunch of different stuff and I feel like he could tell you probably more about what he did exactly. But from my end, just watching him, he was just so specific with his rehab every single day when I saw him and the things that he did. But, all I know is he went hard. He did everything he could to get back for this Week One, so that’s a credit to him, man. That’s actually remarkable to be able to have that kind of injury and do what he did to get back. He flew places, he did things. He did everything the right way and he just worked his tail off every day in the weight room. From when we were back in California in OTAs, in the summer in Tennessee and then back during camp, everybody saw what he was doing. So, big credit to him for doing that and doing it for the team. He wanted to get back to play with the boys and to give this organization everything he’s got. So, that’s George.”

Everyone says you have command of the huddle. What does command of the huddle mean and how did you have that when you stepped in midseason all those years ago?

“I feel like just understanding what my job is as quarterback. Making sure everyone is in the huddle, hears the play clearly so they know what their job is and we can do that over and over and over again, and holding a standard. Feeling out practice, making sure that we’re practicing the right way so that it translates to the games on Sundays and stuff like that. I feel like for me growing up, as I played quarterback at a young age and stuff, that’s just something that sort of fell upon the quarterback of being the leader that everyone sort of looks to with how he handles adversity and if everything isn’t how it should be, how is our quarterback handling it? So, I feel like that’s something that as you grow up playing quarterback, you sort of understand that. And so, where I’m at now playing for the 49ers and doing that, nothing’s really changed. That’s something that I’ve just done my whole life.”

Brock, congratulations, 50 games on Friday for the Niners. Can you take us back to your very first career start and what have you learned from your 49 other games as you head into the MCG?

“Yeah, man, my first career start, 2022 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. It was a fun game. Went out there, we all did great as a team and we went on a good little winning streak there at the end of the year. But from that moment on until now, I just feel like I’ve grown a lot with who I am as a person, as a quarterback, trying to grow my game. What I knew then compared to now is obviously night and day difference. And understanding still though, that same love of the game that I had from my first start until now has been the same. I absolutely love this game and love playing quarterback and competing and doing everything I can to help take our organization to new heights. That’s something that I really love.”

Just on that growth, it’s been well documented being Mr. Irrelevant to now being QB1 of the Niners, now starting a game halfway around the world. Has there been someone behind the scenes that’s been really instrumental in your journey to get to this point in your career?

“Yeah, definitely. You know, as a kid, growing up, I watched the NFL and stuff and obviously I just loved the game of football and I wanted to be on the TV one day playing and throwing touchdowns and doing all those things. Obviously, that didn’t just happen overnight. It happened by taking it one day at a time and loving the game, loving practices, loving the dog days and the early morning workouts and all those things. I just loved that. And then, keeping my head down and going about high school and college and trying to make the NFL, an NFL team. Then, I don’t know, I’ve looked up now and it’s like, all right, here we are. I am doing what I dreamed of as a kid. And so, with that being said, I don’t take it for granted. I definitely wear my heart on my sleeve and have that chip on my shoulder to go out every day and play this game and know that it’s not guaranteed tomorrow. That’s how I look at it, but I definitely enjoy every single moment of it.”

There’s a growing number of Australians playing American Football at the grassroots level. Any advice for any Australians who want to get to college and want to make it to the NFL?

“Yeah, man, sort of just like what I said. I think my best advice would be just be where your feet are at. Don’t look and try to be somewhere where you need to be in 15 years. Be where you’re at right now. Go hard at your training, your preparation. A lot of people are probably going to say it’s not possible, you can’t do it, but telling you, if you really do love what you do, it is possible. I would tell that to any kid out there, whether you’re in Australia or any other country, the United States, it doesn’t matter. I think it’s the same thing. If you love what you do then I think you can definitely go and achieve something pretty great.”

There’s a team called the Warriors who are in the finals who have never won anything. Is there a mental thing you can think about it or do you go about it every day as you would?

“Yeah. You’ve got to start somewhere. I don’t think you should buy into other people’s opinions or criticisms. People are always going to have an opinion. But, I think if you believe in yourself and you trust in your work ethic and the preparation that you’ve put in, yeah you can go win. You can go do it all.”

What have you seen from WR De’Zhaun Stribling working with WR Mike Evans? He seems like he’s just absorbing everything like a sponge.

“One hundred-percent. It’s cool just for me to sort of look at the receiver room and see Mike Evans and [WR] Demarcus Robinson, having [WR] Deebo [Samuel Sr.] back, like some older guys. And then you’ve got Stribling to be able to go and learn from those guys. And you could see them out on the practice field in between periods and stuff, just like talking and going over routes and stuff. I just think overall, and Stribling knows it, how blessed he is to have that kind of room, those older vets and stuff where he can learn. And the cool thing is he has put aside his ego and everything and he knows that he’s young and he’s got to learn and all that kind of thing. He’s doing that. So that’s why we all love Stribling is because he’s willing to learn.”

What have you seen from him from the first day of OTAs to now?

“I think just the mindset that he’s had has been really cool from day one until now. Trying to come in, learn the playbook, be where he needs to be, compete, go up and get the ball, stuff like that, that he’s shown early on. He’s still doing now, which is cool, but I just feel like he’s a little bit more savvy now and understands right when he breaks a huddle what he’s got and then he can go run his route confidently and play himself and not overthink things, but just go out and play. So, I’m really excited to see him Week One and what he does this year.”

From the Rams secondary, new piece in Los Angeles Rams CB Trent McDuffie. What jumps off the film about him?

“Yeah, just really good in coverage. Obviously, I just think he’s a guy that if you get a one-on-one opportunity and stuff, you’ve got to just be aware of like what he’s capable of doing. He’s great in coverage. And I think that’s why the Rams obviously went out and got him. It was a great addition for them and their defense, their scheme and how they run things. But, going back to playing against him the last couple of years in my career, he’s a guy that pops out on tape and obviously when I’m out in the game, you could definitely feel him making plays over and over again. So, I’ve got a lot of respect for him and I’ve got to be aware of where he’s at.”

Have you gotten the chance to have a look at the MCG? Can you talk about the preparation required to play in a new stadium? How excited are you to play in the stadium that you haven’t had a chance to play in before?

“I haven’t been in it yet. Obviously, I’ve driven by, but yeah, I’ve looked up games and stuff that have been played there, how loud it can get. I’m really excited about it obviously, but I think just understanding the cadence that we have to be on, the noise and everything, handling that, the operation within the huddle, making sure guys can hear things. I’m sure it’s going to get pretty loud at times which is cool. Those are fun environments to play in. So, I think that and then obviously it is a big circle. So, like the field will be in the middle of that circle. So, just like having fans sort of further away compared to right up on the sideline. I don’t know if that’ll be a big impact for me or not, but yeah that’ll be something that’s different.”