49ers' Brock Purdy once again discusses 'game manager' label

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy seems amused that some still label him a "game manager" even after he's guided his club to a pair of conference championship games and this coming Sunday's Super Bowl LVIII matchup versus the Kansas City Chiefs.

"I think it's sort of funny, just because we're winning," Purdy recently told ESPN's Michelle Beisner-Buck, as shared by David Bonilla of 49ers WebZone. "I think, over time, I might get some respect, but more than anything, it hasn't been about proving people wrong or any of that. It's always been about just proving myself right. Over time, I've told myself that I'm good enough and I'm worthy enough to be playing at this level, and over time, I'll prove that to myself."

Purdy previously brushed off takes from former NFL MVP Cam Newton and former NFL executive Amy Trask that suggested he was a product of an offense masterminded by Kyle Shanahan and that features dynamic play-makers such as Christian McCaffrey Deebo Samuel. It's known that Shanahan wanted to start future Hall of Famer Tom Brady over Purdy for the 2023 season, but the 24-year-old is now four quarters away from possibly joining legends Joe Montana and Steve Young on the list of quarterbacks who have hoisted the Vince Lombardi Trophy as members of the 49ers. 

"It just wouldn't really make sense to me for my name to be up there with theirs," Purdy said of Montana and Young. "I can't get caught up in all that. It's, 'How can I be the best for this 2023 49ers football team and try to do everything I can to win the championship for them?' But what an honor it would be."

As of Monday afternoon, DraftKings Sportsbook listed Purdy second among the betting favorites behind Chiefs star Patrick Mahomes (+125) at +225 odds to earn Super Bowl MVP honors. If Purdy outperforms Mahomes on the sport's biggest stage, the "game manager" debate should be put to bed for good.