LAS VEGAS — We are now less than six days away from Super Bowl LVIII between the San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
And as has become tradition on the Monday of Super Bowl week, the players from both teams face hundreds of members of the media at Super Bowl Opening Night.
This year, it was held on the field the teams will be playing on in less than a week. One of the players at the center of the madness was Valley local Brock Purdy, who, if you weren't already aware, is the 49ers starting quarterback.
Purdy spoke to the media for more than an hour on Monday talking about everything from the game, to his upcoming nuptials, to representing his home state on the biggest stage in sports.
Representing Arizona
Purdy made multiple mentions of his alma mater, Perry High School in Gilbert, and the impact the school had on his life.
"Perry High School, just the people, the teachers, the community, I had so many great people in my life from Perry that have believed in me from day one, you know, when I wasn't getting offers and scholarships," Purdy said. "So I'm always appreciative of them and they've always had my back, you know, through college and the NFL. So, I love Perry High School and will always rep them."
Purdy also mentioned the billboards that popped up across the Valley ahead of the NFC Championship with the message, "Let's Go Brock Purdy!" The 49ers QB said he appreciated the support from back home.
"It's a blessing," Purdy said. "Obviously, growing up in Arizona, you want to just put on for everybody in your life that has supported you and, obviously to be in the NFL and you see your name on billboards and stuff like, 'Let's go Brock,' but doesn't get any better than that. And I love the state of Arizona and everyone that's been a part of my life. And obviously, I'm trying to represent them as best as I can for as long as my career goes."
Perry also revealed, despite growing up in Arizona, he wasn't a fan of the Arizona State Sun Devils or the Arizona Wildcats. Instead, one team, and one quarterback in particular, earned his attention.
"I was actually a Florida Gator fan," Purdy said. "I love Tim Tebow and I was so bipolar for both teams being from the state of Arizona."
And even now, as he becomes a star in the NFL, Purdy continues to fight for respect for the Grand Canyon State.
"I think there's a lot of great athletes that come from Arizona and, and I've always, you know, had arguments with teammates in college and stuff like, no, you guys need to respect Arizona," Purdy said. "And then just the rivalries and stuff that you have in high school and, and the competitive nature that you have out there, man, and it's amazing. And so I'm trying to do my best to represent Arizona."
Journey to college and the NFL
Purdy also spoke about his journey from Perry to Iowa State and how his decision came just before National Signing Day back in 2018.
"My recruiting was a little late and slow," Purdy said. "My junior year I had mono so I wasn't big, fast, strong. Senior year I got it. I got it back. Had a good year, but a lot of teams sort of had their quarterbacks already and so for me, I had five weeks left before Signing Day and schools came in sort of late. I had like Texas A&M, Alabama, (and ) Iowa State. (I) went on all the visits and Coach Campbell at Iowa State, he had a vision, playing in the Big 12 to, you know, change his program and make a name for itself and all I wanted to do was play Power Five football, D-I, and give myself a shot to fulfill my dreams of playing college football Power Five."
Purdy went on to make a great decision, starting for the Cyclones for four years, leading the team to four straight bowl games and even winning the 2021 Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium in Glendale.
He ended up getting drafted by San Francisco with the final pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, earning the title of Mr. Irrelevant. As he is now the most famous player to have ever been taken with the final pick of the draft, the title has stuck with Purdy as a nickname. But is he ready to get rid of it?
"I'm okay with Mr. Irrelevant. It's all good," Purdy said.
Playing in the Super Bowl isn't the only big event coming up for Purdy. Later this month, he'll be inducted into the Chandler Sports Hall of Fame and then in March, he will get married to fiancé Jenna Brandt. The pair got engaged last Summer, but Purdy hasn't had much time to help with the wedding plans.
"Yeah, Jen has done a great job with the wedding plans," Purdy said. "Obviously, we got engaged in the summer and then boom the season hit. So for me, it's been obviously football and trying to win every week. And she's done such a tremendous job with you know, when I come home and we just talked about the little things of the wedding. And honestly, it's helped me with football to sort of get my mind off football and we have our time to talk about the wedding and what our future looks like."
Playing in the Super Bowl
But for this week, it is no wedding, all football as Purdy works to bring the 49ers their first Lombardi Trophy since 1995. And getting to play in the first-ever Super Bowl in Las Vegas, well that's just a cherry on top of what has been an incredible ride for the second-year QB.
"I think it's sweet, you know, to play the first Super Bowl in Las Vegas and make some history and be a part of it," Purdy said. "For me as like a little kid, you know, you want to play in the biggest and sweetest environment. I think this is up there. So we played here last year for New Year's, and now we get to play for the Super Bowl. So it's pretty sweet."
But the journey to get to this Super Bowl has been challenging for Purdy, as he had to battle back from an elbow injury that happened in last year's NFC Championship. But seeing this all come to fruition has Purdy feeling grateful.
"It's been it's crazy, just the thought of, you know, flying in and you're about to do all these Super Bowl festivities and you know, a year ago I had torn my arm and I didn't know what my future looked like," Purdy said. "I was going through surgery and rehab and all that so now we are a year later and for me, more than anything is just having that grateful mindset like man, it's been a crazy year. Obviously, we have one more game to go, so that's that's the main focus."
Saying thank you
Purdy also made sure to say "thank you" to many of the people who helped bring him to this point in his life, including his dad, grandpa and Little League baseball coach.
"There's so many people from my childhood that I've helped me get to where I'm at," Purdy said. "I will say, Coach McLean, Little League baseball, he made me run some poles one time because I was acting out and I was the best player on the team and I had an attitude. I think I was 11 or 10. And he made me run poles that practice and I'll never forget it. And it humbled me big time and I needed it. So thank you, Coach."
Purdy also made mention of Dan Manucci, a former NFL quarterback who trains other quarterbacks here in the Valley, including Purdy himself.
"I mean since high school he is the guy that I went to continue to grow in my fundamentals and my skills as a quarterback," Purdy said. "From footwork to the throwing, cardio, you name it, Coach (Manucci) put us through it and forever will be grateful for him and what he's done for me. Love you, Coach."
The 49ers and Chiefs will play in Super Bowl LVIII at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Sunday, Feb. 11. Kick-off is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. Arizona time.
Arizona sports
The city of Phoenix is home to five major professional sports league teams; The NFL's Arizona Cardinals, NBA's Phoenix Suns, WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury, MLB's Arizona Diamondbacks and NHL's Arizona Coyotes.
The Cardinals have made State Farm Stadium in Glendale their home turf and the Footprint Center in downtown Phoenix is home to both the Suns and the Mercury. The Indoor Football League’s Arizona Rattlers play at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale. The Coyotes play at Mullett Arena on ASU's Tempe campus.
Phoenix also has a soccer team with the USL's Phoenix Rising FC, who play at Phoenix Rising FC Stadium in Phoenix.
The Valley hosts multiple major sporting events on a yearly basis, including college football's Fiesta Bowl and Guaranteed Rate Bowl; the PGA Tour’s highest-attended event, the WM Phoenix Open; NASCAR events each spring and fall, including Championship Weekend in November; and Cactus League Spring Training for 15 Major League Baseball franchises.
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