USF’s head football coach shares heartwarming story about coaching Brock Purdy ahead of Super Bowl
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Quarterback Brock Purdy has become the talk of the town since he led the San Francisco 49ers playoff victory, becoming the first Niners rookie quarterback to start and win a playoff game last season.
Now, “Mr. Irrelevant” is preparing to make his Super Bowl debut as he and the 49ers face off against the reigning Super Bowl champion Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday.
For any football player, reaching the Super Bowl is the ultimate goal in one’s career. As Purdy prepares for the big game, his former college coach, Alex Golesh, who is now the head football coach at the University of South Florida, sat down with WFLA’s Aileen Hnatiuk and reflected on a funny but sweet story from Purdy’s college days.
Golesh served as Iowa State’s tight ends coach and recruiting coordinator from 2016-2019.
“Talk about working harder than anyone else. I remember — Brock will get mad if this ever gets out to him — and maybe it will, but I remember sitting there on a Wednesday night meeting with him, and we had heard a little rumor that maybe he went on a date with a girl,” Golesh said.
“This was his second year there, right, and to him, it’s like, ‘No, I’m here for football and school, like there’s no girls.’ And I was like, man, ‘A movie? On a Sunday?’ He’s like, ‘There was no girl. And was like so mad that he was even accused of going out. He’s like, ‘I’m here to lead this football program.’”
Golesh, who served as Iowa State’s tight ends coach and recruiting coordinator, continued, saying that when Purdy’s mom, dad, sister, and brother are all the same way.
“That’s how he was raised to be,” Golesh said.
Purdy’s former coach dished that the quarterback is getting married this year and hinted that Purdy’s fiancé is the same girl he went on a date with back in college.
“Was that her that he went on a date with?” Hnatiuk asked.
“It was. Now, he says he didn’t never go on the date but it was clear,” the USF head coach said.
Purdy entered his freshman year at Iowa State in 2018 as the third-string quarterback. He later became the starter, filling in for Kyle Kempt, who got injured, and the second-string Zeb Noland was ineffective.
He started in eight games his freshman year, completing 146 of 220 passes for 2,250 yards with 16 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He also rushed for 308 yards and five touchdowns. Purdy returned as the starter in 2019.
“To see what he’s been able to do, and again, people are saying, man, like not big enough, not strong enough, not whatever. And all he does is win because of what he puts into it and what his process is and what he demands of his teammates,” Golesh said.
Purdy was selected as the final pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, dubbing him that year’s Mr. Irrelevant. After being a third-string in college, Purdy found himself in the same place with the 49ers — behind then-starter Trey Lance and backup Jimmy Garoppolo.
The 24-year-old got his shot at QB after both Lance and Garoppolo sustained season-ending injuries. On Dec. 4, 2022, the former Cyclone led the 49ers to a 33-17 win over the Miami Dolphins, becoming the first Mr. Irrelevant to throw a touchdown pass in a regular season game. He was named the starter for the remainder of the season.
Purdy finished the 2022-23 regular season throwing for 1,374 yards with 13 touchdowns and four interceptions. He won all five of his starts, leading San Francisco to the second seed in the playoffs.
“Pretty incredible young man, really, really humbling to have been part of his life and continue to just watch his journey, and now my little guys go to sleep in a Brock Purdy jersey every night. It’s pretty neat,” Golesh said.
However, after falling short in the playoffs last season, Purdy and the 49ers will get a shot at the Lombardi on Sunday, Feb. 11 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada. Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. ET
