The 49ers head coach explained why he thinks Brock Purdy will be better off because of this season.
The San Francisco 49ers season has not gone the way they had hoped. Injuries, underperformance, bad luck, and some questionable late-game decisions have led them to a 6-9 record and last place in the NFC West heading into the final two weeks. Yet, while quarterback Brock Purdy hasn’t been immune to the struggles, head coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters on Thursday that he believes the challenges will be good for Purdy’s long-term development.
“He’s in a more challenging situation this year,” Shanahan said when asked about Purdy. “He’s got two more weeks of it. I think it’s going to end up being really good for him in the long run. I thought he played at such a high level in some situations last year that some were good and easier, but then some were tough. Just like even both playoff games, some of the situations we were in and him leading us back to end up winning both of those and go to the Super Bowl.
I think this year, just having a number of his guys down and things like that has been harder on him, but usually, that stuff can make you better. I think he’s fought through it all year. He’s got two more weeks to fight through it, and hopefully, we can still improve in these two weeks and then get to the film in the offseason.”
Purdy’s NFL career has gotten off to a storybook start, emerging as the 49ers top quarterback during his rookie season and helping the team reach the NFC title game and Super Bowl in his first two seasons. However, most metrics (advanced and traditional box score) have taken a step back this year. With a huge contract extension potentially on the horizon, folks around the league have raised concerns about if Purdy has plateaued.
Shanahan (at least publicly) has none of those concerns.
“I think Brock’s been good. Brock’s a very strong person,” Shanahan responded when asked about Purdy’s mental resolve. “I think he’s disappointed. He had high expectations this year, just like we all did. I also don’t think he hasn’t ever been in a losing situation yet. So, I think that’s very hard for him. But to watch how he responds each week, to watch how he practices, to watch how he is in the meetings, he’s always the same guy and nothing’s changed in that way.”