San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy signed a five-year, $265 million contract extension following a pivotal phone call from coach Kyle Shanahan that reassured the former Mr. Irrelevant about his standing with the franchise, according to ESPN.
Shanahan made the unusual decision to contact Purdy during contract negotiations in early April to provide clarity about his role. The coach typically avoids involvement in contract matters unless absolutely necessary, as with deals for Trent Williams and Brandon Aiyuk last season.
Purdy\'s agent. Kyle Strongin, delivered the news via text message reading \"DONE DEAL\" while Purdy was playing golf at Olympic Club on May 16. The contract includes $181 million in overall guarantees and a no-trade clause, making it the biggest raise in NFL history.
Shanahan sensed that extended time away from the team might have created doubt in Purdy\'s mind about his future with the organization.
\"I just wanted to give him some clarity,\" Shanahan said. \"I hope by me kind of reassuring him of that, it would kind of take the edge off and the pressure off. ... And I just wanted to assure him that [the negotiation] wasn\'t going to change anything.\"
The conversation provided exactly what Purdy needed to hear during the uncertain negotiation period.
\"I totally agreed with him,\" Purdy told ESPN. \"It was a good reminder for him to call and remind me of what\'s important in the long run.\"
Purdy and his camp deliberately avoided trying to exceed Dak Prescott\'s $60 million annual average, instead prioritizing guaranteed money and team flexibility. The deal averages $53 million per season, positioning Purdy as the seventh-highest paid player in the league.
\"We didn\'t need to break the market by getting 60-plus and have all this record-breaking stuff. That\'s not what we were aiming for,\" Purdy said.
The quarterback studied comparisons to Trevor Lawrence\'s $275 million contract and Josh Allen\'s recent extension while negotiating.
Purdy welcomed his first child, daughter Millie Joleen, in late July while continuing to develop his leadership voice with teammates. The former 262nd overall pick has become more vocal in demanding precision from receivers during practice sessions.
\"No gift can compare,\" Purdy said about fatherhood, describing quiet moments with his daughter as better than any professional achievement.
Teammates noted Purdy\'s unchanged demeanor despite his massive contract, with the 49ers preparing to rebound from last season\'s 6-11 finish.