Why the 49ers Believe Brock Purdy’s Contract Won’t Define His Success—What They’re Really Expecting

Brock Purdy, the 49ers’ quarterback who seemingly came from nowhere as the last pick of the draft, just locked in a new deal — but don’t expect a different Purdy in the huddle next season. Head coach Kyle Shanahan made it clear this week that the team isn’t pushing for his style to change now that the ink is dry on that contract. It’s refreshing honestly — no pressure to overhaul what’s already working with a guy who led San Francisco all the way to a Super Bowl start. Shanahan’s words spoke volumes: Purdy’s proven himself, and the last thing anyone wants is to impose extra expectations simply because he’s signing bigger checks. The 49ers are backing their guy to keep being the steady force they know and trust. It’s a reminder that sometimes success means sticking to your roots rather than reinventing the wheel when the spotlight gets hotter. LEARN MORE

Purdy made an improbable rise from being the final pick of the draft to starting a Super Bowl for the 49ers. That makes it easy to understand why the team would like him to stay the course rather than try to do anything different now that he’s playing on a big contract that ensures expectations for Purdy will be high for years to come. “I want him to be the leader he’s always been,” Shanahan said, via a transcript from the team. “There’s no worse thing to do than ask people to do something extra just because they’re a contract. You know, that’s when you start making stuff up. Brock’s earned his contract and he’s going to earn what he gets going forward.”That was the message from head coach Kyle Shanahan during a Thursday press conference. Purdy’s contract confirms that the 49ers see him as the centerpiece of their franchise and Shanahan was asked if that means the team is looking for Purdy to become a more aggressive leader of the team during the 2025 season. 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy has a new contract, but the team isn’t looking for anything new from him as a result.