Brock Purdy & The Mr. Irrelevant’s of the NFL
Nobody could have predicted that the Iowa State University quarterback, who, according to scouts, was “not a very good athlete” with a “limited arm,” would lead an NFL team to the playoff semi-finals. Brock Purdy was selected 262nd overall by the San Francisco 49ers in the 2022 Draft, making him Mr. Irrelevant.
After the team’s starting quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo was benched with a broken left foot early in the 2022-2023 season, head coach Kyle Shanahan decided to give Purdy a chance. Little did he know the 23-year-old rookie would pass 1,374 yards, throw 13 touchdowns, and lead the team with a 5-0 record when starting. Now after a 13-4 regular season, the 49ers have advanced through a solid playoff run and play the Eagles on Sunday, January 29, in the semi-finals.
Mr. Irrelevant, a nickname coined in 1976 when Kelvin Kirk first received the title, refers to the player selected last in each NFL Draft. The infamous tradition includes the Lowsman Trophy ceremony, in which the player is awarded a trophy depicting someone fumbling a football. Not only that, but the player is also gifted with a trip to Disneyland, an invitation to a golf tournament, and a roast dinner filled with advice for the upcoming season. In a way, the entire routine is based around taunting the player for worming his way into the NFL.
Historically, the first Mr. Irrelevant to play in the Super Bowl was New England Patriots linebacker Marty Moore, chosen last in 1994. The first Mr. Irrelevant to play in the Pro Bowl was technically Chicago Cardinals player Bill Fischer, but he was drafted in 1948, well before the term was created. Other notable Mr. Irrelevants who went on to have long-lasting or somewhat successful careers are Tyrone McGriff, John Tuggle, and Mike Green.
However, there is no debate that Brock Purdy has absolutely altered the way football fans think of the final picks in each draft. Purdy took a term that was meant to undermine and suppress him and turned it into motivation to succeed. He blew expectations out of the water and refused to be labeled as an incompetent wanna-be player. Undoubtedly, he has had the best Mr. Irrelevant rookie season.
\Fans everywhere are excited to watch as he grows in the NFL and makes a name for himself separate from the Mr. Irrelevant title. He is an inspiration to millions of people everywhere who have been told they are unimportant or unwanted, and all eyes are on him as the 49ers wish to be Super Bowl LVII champions.