Brock Purdy reveals how a gritty Super Bowl message from the Hall of Famer reshaped his mindset, fueling his drive to overcome adversity and secure a championship.
The San Francisco 49ers of the 1990's and modern day have a few things in common. There are almost too many similarities to name.
Among the similarities is offensive excellence. It all starts at the top.
The 1990's Niners had George Seifert as head coach taking the mantle from Bill Walsh and carrying over his schematic genius. The current Niners have offensive mastermind Kyle Shanahan at head coach.
The similarities don't stop there. Both teams had great quarterback play and a passion for playing at a high level. That mindset is shared by former 49ers quarterbacks Joe Montana and Steve Young as well as current starting quarterback Brock Purdy.
The mindset is simple and straightforward. When it comes to winning at a high level, all three aforementioned quarterbacks are willing to "do whatever it takes."
Purdy shared that Young has further instilled that thought process in his own approach to the game. He let outsiders know of the advice that Steve Young provided prior to a Niners' Super Bowl appearance.
Here's some of what Purdy had to say on the former San Francisco quarterback's words.
"Steve Young talked to us before the Super Bowl. His advice was, 'Man, you've got to go take it. Nothing's ever given to you, you have to put your head down and do whatever it takes.'
The game is never perfect. It's never going to go exactly how you thought in your head. But you have to be able to adapt and find a way together.
Hearing him say that has resonated with me the last couple years. We've all fought through adversity. This is a new year, and we all feel good, so we've got to be ready to adapt and find a way."
Aug 18, 2026; El Segundo, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (13) throws the ball against the Los Angeles Chargers during joint practice at The Bolt. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn ImagesThe Niners have certainly been dealt their fair share of adversity. Perhaps more often over the last two years than any other two-year stretch in the Kyle Shanahan era, the injury issue has dominated headlines about the team.
Adversity is inevitable. How teams handle it is vital.
Purdy is no stranger to adversity. After battling for a starting job at Iowa State, Purdy routinely found himself going up against the likes of the Oklahoma Sooners and Texas Longhorns on an annual basis, defeating both teams before he left.
After entering the draft, Purdy was selected as the last pick in the draft. Then he had to earn his way up the depth chart.
Young's message to Purdy resonated because he lived it himself. Now, Purdy will look to do what Young did over 30 years ago: Bring a title back to San Francisco.
He will hope to start strong against the Los Angeles Rams.
