LAS VEGAS — If you want to know whether Brock Purdy will take home his work, the highs of his greatest performances, or the lowest of his losses, there’s only one person who can give you the answer.
his housemate.
“I wouldn’t say that,” 49ers offensive lineman Nick Zacherzi told the Post. “Of course, we chat here and there when we’re home. It’s a really nice place. When you get home, you kind of decompress and get away from everything. If either of us has any questions. , I think we both know quite a bit about the offense. He’s probably better than me.”
Purdy and Zakezi have been together since they were both taken late, very late for Purdy, in the 2022 draft.
Zakezi, a native of Cleveland, played at Fordham where he was a sixth-round pick, 187th overall.
Purdy had to wait even longer.
He almost missed that draft, but finally heard his name in the seventh round, the final pick, No. 262.
As newcomers suddenly finding themselves making a living in one of the most expensive parts of the country, Purdy and Zakezi decided it made sense to save money and split the house.
A mutual friend, a former teammate of the Iowa State University Purdys, acted as an intermediary to seal the deal.
“We had been able to spend a lot of time together, and being just two young people in a new area, we thought it was a smart move to live together, but it ended up being a dead end.” I lost it,” Zakerji said.
The two, both 24, found a spot about 20 minutes from the Niners’ practice facility in Santa Clara.
Zakeri described the house as “just the right size” and described Purdy as a housemate: “Clean, punctual, great, everything you could want.”
Neither of them are very good cooks, but Purdy is a little better in the kitchen.
Neither was scheduled to play early in their NFL careers, but things have changed.
Due to injuries to Trey Lance and Jimmy Garoppolo, Purdy started five games as a rookie and went 5-0.
He won the job himself.
Suddenly, the final draft pick known as Mr. Irrelevant was a bona fide NFL quarterback living with a rarely used offensive lineman.
Zacheri, who hasn’t played in two years, has appeared in nine games and is on injured reserve, meaning he won’t suit up Sunday when the 49ers play the Chiefs in the 2024 Super Bowl.
Asked whether he could have imagined Mr. Purdy’s rapid rise, Mr. Zakezi said: “No, but it’s not surprising.” “When you see someone working hard every day, you recognize the success that comes from that and where it comes from, what motivates him and what drives him to be the best he can be.”
“He hasn’t changed. He’s the same guy, he’s been the same since the beginning. Humble. That’s really great.”
Purdy injured his right elbow in last year’s NFC Championship, which the 49ers lost to the Eagles.
Purdy led the league with a passer rating of 113.0 in 2023, and the Niners are still playing.
“I don’t think anything will really shake him,” Zakerzi said. “He’s a very process-oriented guy and he’s going to go out there and do his job, prepare for the game and go out there and execute.”
Zaccheri signed a four-year contract worth $3.85 million as a rookie.
Purdy was subsequently selected with the 75th pick and signed a four-year contract worth $3.73 million.
This financial order will sooner or later flip in Purdy’s favor.
“It’s very interesting to think about it,” Zakerji said.
If Purdy leads his team to victory and wins Super Bowl MVP, will he choose to find his place?
“I’m going to get an eviction notice,” Zakerji said with a laugh.
Fame and fortune are one of the obstacles to a long-term housing deal. Love is something else. Purdy is planning a wedding with his girlfriend from college, Jenna Brandt, but as we all know, the three of them are a crowd.
