Rising San Francisco 49ers star Brock Purdy is poised to make history.
The quarterback could become the first rookie to lead his team to a Super Bowl appearance. He is the latest rookie quarterback to lead his team to a conference championship. While Purdy has also won each of the seven games he started, he’s getting praise for a different reason — because he puts faith first.
The former Iowa state standout has been open about his religion.
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San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy prays with other players following their 33-17 win over the Miami Dolphins at Levi’s Stadium December 4, 2022 in Santa Clara, California. (Jane Tyska/Digital First Media/East Bay Times via Getty Images)
Rev. Franklin Graham, CEO of Samaritan’s Purse and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, was the last to congratulate Purdy after his victory over the Dallas Cowboys and emphasize his openness about his faith in God and Jesus Christ.
“You are now just one game away from the Super Bowl! Aside from being a super talented football player, I love the fact that Brock Purdy is so open about his faith in Jesus Christ,” Graham wrote in a Facebook post Monday. He added that he wanted to win the Super Bowl with the 49ers.
In the days leading up to the Cowboys game, Purdy told reporters how he was simply trying to stay in the moment amidst all the attention that was swirling around him and his team.
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San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy prays with other players after the Miami Dolphins game in Santa Clara, California December 4, 2022. (Jane Tyska/Digital First Media/East Bay Times via Getty Images)
“It was football, man,” Purdy said Thursday. “I’m not trying to make more of it than it is. I’m a faith based guy so I keep my feet on the ground. I don’t see football like it’s literally everything. It’s (not) do or die or something.
“It’s a game and it sure is my job and I take it very seriously but at the end of the day I know that as a person I’m not defined by wins or losses like I’m not. I “I’m not just a quarterback. I wasn’t born to just be a quarterback and play football, and that’s it. Like I had a life and stuff.”
“And I remember that, but at the same time, man, I’m a competitor. I love taking part in competitions. I want to win at all costs and that’s why I enjoyed that too, so I’m there at. It keeps me grounded through all of this, but I’m definitely grateful and blessed to be here.
Brock Purdy with his hand on his heart. (Getty Images)
After being bumped into the 49ers’ matchup against the Miami Dolphins in December, Purdy said he simply trusted in God.
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“You go out there, prepare as best you can, you’re getting better at practice every day and as soon as you get your chance it’s, ‘What are you going to do with it?’ For me I believe in the Lord and I trust him. I just go out and just play,” he said.
Brock Purdy of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates after passing the ball for a touchdown against the Dallas Cowboys at Levi’s Stadium on January 22, 2023 in Santa Clara, California. (Michael Owens/Getty Images)
Purdy also opened up to Sports Spectrum in 2021 about his faith. He said in Iowa state he asked God to forgive him for putting the sport he loved above his relationship with God.
“It was just a great reminder of where my identity is, where it lies,” he said. “And it is in Jesus. And I keep leaning on him. Also the next day I didn’t go out and threw 500 yards and was this great quarterback, but it was just this peace that I had with him because I knew, “Hey, no matter what I experience during college football God and Jesus will be my identity. And whatever I encounter, I will not be shaken by it.” I have a great foundation in Him.”
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Now Purdy is one win away from an unlikely appearance at Super Bowl LVII.
Ryan Gaydos is Sports Editor at Fox News Digital.