Star 49ers tight end George Kittle defends "checkdown merchant" quarterback Brock Purdy

San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle has had enough of hearing what he believes to be unfair criticism directed at his teammate and quarterback, Brock Purdy.

Purdy has faced scrutiny since signing a blockbuster five-year, $265 million contract extension, which included $181 million in guaranteed money.

Appearing in what was mostly a light-hearted segment on The Rich Eisen Show, Kittle made his thoughts on the matter clear.

"I don't know what his winning percentage is, but when you win a lot of games, and then you only need two years to go to the NFC Championship or better, I think that's decent."

Kittle wasn't done there, interrupting Eisen to point out that the "checkdown merchant" label Purdy has acquired is inaccurate.

Purdy was famously dubbed 'Mr. Irrelevant' after being the final player selected in the 2022 NFL Draft.

Defying the odds, he became the starting quarterback job in his rookie year, earned a Pro Bowl nomination in his second, and guided the 49ers to a Super Bowl berth where the 49ers narrowly lost to the Kansas City Chiefs.

While once a shining example of how even the most overlooked players can achieve success, Purdy came under fire as the size of his new deal meant parting ways with other key players.

The 49ers may well be a team in transition as they adapt to personnel changes, but Kittle's warning was clear: Don't come after his quarterback, or he will hold you to account.

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