Gordon Lucas
: When the circus arrived in Las Vegas this year, football fans were not anticipating many ties to Arizona, following the Valley’s intense focus on Super Bowl LVII in Glendale last February.
The hope of cheering on a local team in Super Bowl LVIII vanished with the Arizona Cardinals’ poor start to the season.
That is, until this year, when the San Francisco 49ers secured their spot in the championship game.
supporters in the Valley are very interested in the 49ers, led by MVP candidate Brock Purdy. This is even true for supporters who usually mock opponents from the NFC West, a conference that San Francisco frequently rules while the Cardinals perform poorly.
Queen Creek native Purdy still has a large following back home after his NFL career, which started when he was chosen with the very last choice in the 2022 draft and ended this Sunday when he will start for the 49ers as their quarterback against the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl.
Ignore the Taylor-mania. There’s Purdy-pandemonium in the southeast valley as a result of the 49ers’ incredible run in the NFL playoffs.
“It’s important to succeed for all of your supporters because you grew up in Arizona,” Purdy remarked on Monday during Super Bowl Opening Night in Las Vegas. “I’m working hard to represent Arizona and everyone who has touched my life because I love them.”
Queen Creek native Purdy still has a large following back home after his NFL career, which started when he was chosen with the very last choice in the 2022 draft and ended this Sunday when he will start for the 49ers as their quarterback against the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl.
Ignore the Taylor-mania. There’s Purdy-pandemonium in the southeast valley as a result of the 49ers’ incredible run in the NFL playoffs.
“It’s important to succeed for all of your supporters because you grew up in Arizona,” Purdy remarked on Monday during Super Bowl Opening Night in Las Vegas. “I’m working hard to represent Arizona and everyone who has touched my life because I love them.”
“It’s important to succeed for all of your supporters because you grew up in Arizona,” Purdy remarked on Monday during Super Bowl Opening Night in Las Vegas. “I’m doing everything in my power to represent the people and the state of Arizona because I love them.”
Nobody has helped Purdy and the 49ers more than the teachers at Perry High School, Purdy’s former school, during their Super Bowl run.
In 2017, Purdy topped the state in passing yards (4,405) as a senior at Perry. He also guided the Pumas to the 6A state semifinal, where they were ultimately defeated by Chandler High School.
Purdy won the Ed Doherty Award for his incredible senior season.
Purdy’s name is everywhere on the Perry campus, making it easy to stroll about the university.
The front office of the school prominently displays the Doherty and Gatorade Player of the Year honors.
Perry, 24, was wished success in the Super Bowl by the message on his marquee after the 49ers won the NFC Championship this season.
Every kid at the school will receive a free shirt on Friday that says “Brock Nation” and features the Perry logo.
“The student body is excited, but not as excited because they didn’t know him,” said Preston Jones, a teacher at the school and the former Perry football coach. “Everyone who was present when Brock arrived is overjoyed.
“Everyone shares stories with their students and talks about it all the time. Undoubtedly, there is a buzz.
The excitement surrounding Purdy isn’t limited to Perry High School alone. Throughout the 14-day interval between the NFC Championship and the Super Bowl, fans have been demonstrating their support in inventive ways.
Billboards stating “Let’s go Brock Purdy” were placed on the Loop 202 freeway by local Valley attorneys Lerner & Rowe, causing controversy just before the 49ers defeated the Detroit Lions 34–31 in the NFC Championship game. After offending a few Cardinals supporters, the billboards were removed in a matter of days.
But Purdy felt incredibly honored.
It doesn’t get any better than seeing your name on billboards that read, “Let’s go, Brock,” according to Purdy.
In the Gilbert area, Purdy 49ers jerseys are frequently spotted in local eateries and grocery stores.
On Championship Sunday, Jones was at his daughter’s dancing competition at Higley High School. He remarked that one of the dance teams was doing a choreography in Purdy jerseys.
Many elite players who have reached the pinnacles of their sports reside in the East Valley. Like Purdy, Cody Bellinger of Hamilton High School is a two-time World Series winner and an MLB MVP. However, Purdy’s appeal is derived from more than just his familial links to the area. Despite going from Perry High to Iowa State, where he was named a three-time Big 12 quarterback, his draft standing decreased until the very end of the 2022 NFL Draft. Purdy’s obstacles simply appeared insurmountable when the 49ers took him with the 262nd selection, an honor that labeled him “Mr. Irrelevant.”
Purdy made his way while playing in the shadow of legendary quarterbacks like Joe Montana and Steve Young in the Bay Area.
Playing in the shadow of quarterback legends such as Joe Montana and Steve Young in the Bay Area, Purdy rose from a third-string position to become a leader who has won over hearts in both San Francisco and Arizona.
Regarding Purdy’s renown in the Valley, Jones remarked, “You don’t see that with people from here that have made it big.” “Because of the kind of person he is, you don’t see that kind of rallying.”
The people of Gilbert are not the only ones that support Purdy. Purdy has been supported by coaches who have been involved in his progress throughout the season.
Purdy has cemented himself in the MVP conversation in route to a Super Bowl participation after finishing fifth in
Manucci stated that Purdy has been his most successful protégé, counting former Texas Tech quarterback Tyler Shough and backup quarterback Bryce Perkins among his customers.
“It’s amazing to see one of my most valued students participating in the Super Bowl,” Manucci remarked. It is utterly bizarre. I’m so proud of this young man for what he’s overcome.
Purdy works with Manucci in the off-season to obtain outside advice on whatever he needs to work on, having done so both in college and the NFL. Manucci will advise Purdy via text messaging on things he may improve upon during the NFL season.
“He’s excellent at responding to texts regarding any queries I have.”
Manucci’s texts in the run-up to the Super Bowl have a tone that emphasizes Purdy’s mental game.
“Relax, have fun, study that playbook, and become well-versed in the game plan,” I advised him. After everything is said and done, Manucci advised, “just keep your eyes up, trust your eyes, let it rip, take a few deep breaths before the opening kickoff, and have fun.”
When he takes the field on Sunday at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas to face the Chiefs and opponent quarterback Patrick Mahomes, Purdy-mania in Arizona will be front and center.
Thousands of fans are anticipated to attend watch parties throughout the Valley, and Purdy jerseys will be unavoidable. The 49ers, enduring rivals .
