‘Spoiled’ Brock Purdy’s Clear Message to Patrick Mahomes After 49ers Teammates Gave QB Harsh Reality Check

It’s been more than a year since Super Bowl LVIII, where Brock Purdy’s 49ers went toe-to-toe against already two-time Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes’ Chiefs. What was supposed to be revenge for Super Bowl LIV quickly turned into a familiar sinking feeling for the Niners. Like they had already witnessed, Mahomes overcame a 10-point deficit in the fourth quarter 5 years ago to claim the Lombardi. However, little did they know it would happen again, leaving them crushed from within. And that loss in Vegas was so devastating—Purdy still has the game replaying in his head. Saying to himself, What if?

See, then-sophomore QB Purdy was coming into his first Super Bowl after finishing the regular season with a league-high 113 passing rating. And you know what? He kept that momentum going. His final numbers on the night were 22-of-38 passes for 255 yards, one TD, no turnovers, and just one sack. Still, he couldn’t lead the 49ers to that all-elusive Super Bowl win. Why? Because of his mistakes and, of course, Mahomes’ magic.

Remembering that night from a year ago, Purdy on Build 4 more podcast said, “It’s like dude what could have been you know like in our eyes we’re a couple plays away and you give them a chance at the end and overtime and he did..what everybody expected Pat mahomes to do is go score and stuff.” So, here’s what happened. Late into the game, there were a couple of plays where Purdy couldn’t convert field goals into TDs.

First, he came up short at the Chiefs’ 9-yard line, then on 3rd-and-5, the Niners settled for a field goal. Those botched TD drives proved to be costly for the 49ers. Seeing an opportunity open up, Mahomes wasn’t going to let it go cold, was he? Even after throwing an interception early into the second half. Mahomes was simply unstoppable after that. Coming back from 10-3 at halftime, Mahomes got the Chiefs into overtime. 13 plays and 75 yards later, Pat found veteran receiver Mecole Hardman for the game-winning TD.

And just like the 49ers, yet again, found themselves rueing missed opportunities. As for Purdy, who made the Super Bowl in just his second year in the league, he didn’t know what was coming. From considering himself lucky, the 49ers QB was set for a brutal reality check from his locker room.

Aftermath of the 49ers Super Bowl LVIII loss

The 49ers locker room was covered in pin-drop silence. Their defensive end, Nick Bosa, apparently told the reporters he needed time to digest the loss. Trent Williams, who is usually enthusiastic and expansive in his interviews, had little to say. Like all of them in the locker room, including Kyle Shanahan, they didn’t have words to describe the pain in their heart. It all started with losing to the Chiefs in Super Bowl LIV. Then, they fell short to the Rams in the NFC Championship game in 2021. After the 2021 season, the 49ers couldn’t get through the Eagles yet again in the NFC title game.

Different seasons, familiar setbacks. Still, the Super Bowl LVIII loss was the most difficult to swallow. Purdy, who was just a second-year QB, didn’t know what this streak of losses actually meant. He was like, “I came in we’re one game away my sophomore year boom. We go to the Super Bowl, so I was spoiled, and then last year, I found out the tough way like dude this ain’t given every year. We didn’t make the playoffs, and things can happen.”

Purdy was in for a reality check from those who had experienced setbacks more than him: “After that game just seeing guys that were crushed Juice, Kittle, Christian Aiyuk, Trent like Fred all these guys, man like they all get how tough this thing..all these other guys were like dude, no no no, no like this thing, you got to be grateful for it and then go make the most of every play and opportunity cause there’s no promises of ever getting back here, you know it’s so I’m still trying to process.” Just look at the 49ers’ condition last season.

Finished last in their NFC West with an embarrassing 6-11 record. And Purdy? Well, he dealt with injuries and only led the Niners to 6 wins from his 15 starts. So, yeah, going to the Super Bowl is tough, and winning is tougher. But maintaining that level of Super Bowl standard is the toughest. Like the 49ers said, you should be grateful for where you are. Because you never know where you will be next season. Either at the top of the tree or lost in its shadow.