Peyton Manning Sounds the Alarm: Peyton Warns Brock Purdy About the Crushing Pressure of a Massive Contract Extension

Despite a disappointing 2024 season in which neither he nor the San Francisco 49ers matched the heights of their Super Bowl run in the 2023 campaign, the likelihood is quarterback Brock Purdy will receive very lucrative contract extension at some point this offseason.

Purdy has enjoyed a remarkable rise since being selected by the 49ers with the final pick in the 2022 NFL Draft and being thrust into the starting lineup in Week 13 following injuries to Trey Lance and Jimmy Garoppolo, producing an MVP-caliber 2023 that ended with San Francisco going within one play of winning it all.

His 2024 represented something of a dip for Purdy as he struggled to overcome injuries to several members of his supporting cast in a dreadful 6-11 year for San Francisco.

Despite the down season, head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch each made it clear Purdy is the 49ers’ quarterback of the future, setting the stage for him to be paid handsomely and avoid playing on the final year of his rookie deal.

But Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning had an important reminder for Purdy when he was asked about the 49ers quarterback during the week of the Pro Bowl Games, for which he was coach of the AFC team.

Manning told NBC Sports Bay Area: “There’s no doubt about it, when you earn a contract like that, there’s definitely expectations that come with that.

“My reminder to players is that it’s not a reward for what you’ve done, it’s an advance on for what we’d like you to do now.

“That’s what players need to remember. You’ve got to go and earn that. It means he’s been a good player, but now we need you to go and be a better player. I think Brock is wired the right way, understands that there’s expectation that comes with being an NFL quarterback for the 49ers and I think he will answer the bell.”

Manning’s words are important ones for Purdy to heed. Though he could well receive a contract to make him one of the highest-paid players in the NFL, the 49ers will likely backload Purdy’s deal and attempt to create a contract structure that gives them a viable out at some point if he does not live up to his salary.

But Manning is confident in Purdy’s ability to bounce back next season with a full complement of stars, the Niners signal-caller having been without Christian McCaffrey and Brandon Aiyuk for most of the year and seen other playmakers deal with injury issues.

Said Manning: “They had a ton of injuries. I think for a quarterback, continuity, when you have the same receivers, running back and tight ends behind you, and next to you, every single series, every single game, that helps you as a quarterback.”

“Not saying that you can’t win if you have different guys in there, but it makes it tougher. And I think with a lot of their injuries, with Christian having some injures, Deebo [Samuel], and Aiyuk out there, he signed late and [Ricky] Pearsall was injured. That makes it tough, but Brock is a competitive guy and I see them bouncing back and having a better year next year.”