Kansas City Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo offered high praise for San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy shortly after the Chiefs earned a 25-22 overtime win against the 49ers in Super Bowl LVIII.
According to David Bonilla of 49ers Webzone, Spagnuolo revealed on the latest edition of “The Season with Peter Schrager” podcast that he reached out to Purdy following what became a thrilling championship contest.
“I just texted Brock the other day,” Spagnuolo said. “I tried to track down his cell number. I just wanted to tell him how much respect I have for him [and] what a terrific game he played. He’s such a quality guy, strong Christian man, and I respect all of that, and I’m happy for all the success.”
Purdy completed 23-of-38 passes for 255 yards with one touchdown versus Spagnuolo’s defense in Super Bowl LVIII.
While the 24-year-old likely wishes he could have at least a couple of throws he missed during the game back, Spagnuolo insisted he thinks the final pick of the 2022 NFL Draft is “terrific.”
Spagnuolo also noted how the game film from Purdy’s playoff wins over the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions helped convince the coach that the second-year pro is not simply a “game manager” carried to wins by offensive playmakers.
“The other thing that stuck out was, we played Tua [Tagovailoa], we played Josh Allen, we played Lamar Jackson (during the playoffs) and you’ve got to worry about those guys always running the football,” Spagnuolo explained, per Taylor Wirth of NBC Sports Bay Area. “Now it’s going to be San Francisco, we haven’t watched a lot on them so I don’t really know them. (We’re thinking) ‘OK … maybe (Purdy’s) not a runner, maybe we can get a little break here.’ I turn the film on and he’s ripping Green Bay and Detroit with a couple of the run plays and I said, ‘OK here we go, we got another one.'”
Purdy rushed for only 12 yards versus the Chiefs, but he also guided the club to a field goal in the extra period that would’ve won the game had San Francisco’s defense stopped Kansas City superstar Patrick Mahomes on a fourth-and-one situation.
