Brock Purdy is receiving the credit Jimmy Garoppolo never got in San Francisco

Whether it be fans, analysts or players/coaches, Brock Purdy has been universally embraced as San Francisco’s franchise quarterback. After leading the 49ers to the Super Bowl in his second season, Purdy has been praised.

Although Jimmy Garoppolo was able to help the 49ers advance just as far four years earlier, he’s viewed in a much different light than Purdy. Both reached the Super Bowl in a losing effort to the Kansas City Chiefs, yet the reviews are worlds apart.

Purdy has been positioned as high profile even after failing to capture San Francisco’s sixth Super Bowl. Garoppolo was immediately labeled a liability after his performance in Super Bowl 54.

“When they have had to move the ball via dropback pass, that has been the difference between him and Jimmy,” one anonymous head coach said, via Tristi Rodriguez of NBC Sports Bay Area . “Purdy has done it, and he’s done it in moments where he had to pull the ball down against Detroit and go get a first down with his legs.

"He has an innate feel. He has proven even when it’s not going well, he’s a quarter away from clicking in, and you’d better have a lead when he does."

Despite winning a lot of games (33-17 regular season record) for San Francisco during his tenure, Garoppolo has been maligned and discarded often. Garoppolo accomplished this despite all the shortcomings we hear about.

Garoppolo wasn’t known for having the strongest arm, quickest feet or even the most accurate. Everything Garoppolo couldn’t do, Purdy has shown the ability to do at a higher more consistent level.

Although they’ve produced some similar results, Purdy has been accepted in ways Garoppolo could only imagine. Purdy seems to just be getting started expected to be the man for San Francisco into the foreseeable future. Garoppolo’s peak came in 2019 with 13 wins and a Super Bowl appearance.

It seems head coach Kyle Shanahan has finally found his long-term answer under center. And he’s got Purday at a bargain for another couple of years although he’ll likely get an extension by next offseason.

Thus far, Purdy has been everything for the Niners that Garoppolo was expected to be when he arrived in the Bay Area. Maybe things would’ve been different had Garoppolo been available more often following the Super Bowl campaign.

"What I've really liked about Brock, ever since he got into the huddle his rookie season, he's a guy that speaks with confidence," George Kittle said . "And when you're a quarterback with confidence, the players, everyone looks at you. You have everyone's attention 24/7. And there's no BS behind it. It's just who he truly is."

Now Purdy looks to be off to the races and potentially superstardom while Garoppolo seems doomed to spend his final NFL days bouncing around from team to team. After spending last season with the Las Vegas Raiders, signed with the Los Angeles Rams in the offseason.