49ers’ Brock Purdy receives praise for keeping his faith in the picture ahead of NFC title

San Francisco 49ers rising star Brock Purdy is about to make history.

The quarterback could become the first rookie to lead his team to a Super Bowl appearance. He is the latest rookie quarterback to guide his team to a conference championship. Although Purdy has also won each of the seven games he has started, he is getting praise for another reason – putting faith first.

The former Iowa State star has been open about his religion.

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San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy prays with other players after their 33-17 win over the Miami Dolphins at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. on Dec. 4, 2022. (Jane Tyska/Digital First Media/East Bay Times via Getty Images)

The Reverend Franklin Graham, CEO of Samaritan’s Purse and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, was the latest to congratulate Purdy after his win over the Dallas Cowboys and noted his openness about his belief in God and Jesus Christ.

“They’re just one game away from the Super Bowl! Besides being a super talented football player, I love that Brock Purdy is so open about his faith in Jesus Christ,” Graham wrote on Monday. in a Facebook post, adding that he was encouraging the 49ers to win the Super Bowl.

In the days leading up to the Cowboys game, Purdy explained to reporters that he was just trying to stay in the moment amid all the attention swirling around him and his team.

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San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy joins other players in prayer after the Miami Dolphins game in Santa Clara, Calif. on Dec. 4, 2022. (Jane Tyska/Digital First Media/East Bay Times via Getty Images)

“It’s been football, man,” Purdy said Thursday. “I don’t try to do more than he is. I’m a faith-based guy, so that’s how I stay grounded. I don’t watch football like it’s literally everything. It’s (not) do or die or something like that.

“It’s a game and it’s my job of course and I take it very seriously, but at the end of the day I know I’m not defined by wins or losses as a person, like this n It’s not who I am. I “I’m not just a quarterback. I wasn’t born just to be a quarterback and play football, and that’s it. Like I had a life and all like that.

“And I remember that, but at the same time, man, I’m a competitor. I love to compete. I want to win at all costs and so, I appreciate that too, so that’s where I’m at. is how I stay grounded with it all, but I’m so grateful and blessed to be here.”

Brock Purdy with his hand over his heart. (Getty Pictures)

After being propelled into the 49ers game against the Miami Dolphins in December, Purdy said he just trusted God.

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“You go out there, you prepare as best you can, you get better every day in training, and once you get the chance, it’s ‘What are you going into? make? For me, I believe in the Lord and I trust in him. I just go out there and just play,” he said.

Brock Purdy of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates after returning the ball for a touchdown against the Dallas Cowboys at Levi’s Stadium on January 22, 2023 in Santa Clara, California. (Michael Owens/Getty Images)

Purdy also opened up to Sports Spectrum in 2021 about his faith. He told Iowa State he asked God to forgive him for putting the sport he loved ahead of his relationship with God.

“It was just a great reminder of where my identity is, where it is,” he said. “And that’s in Jesus. And I keep leaning on him. Again, the next day, I didn’t go out and throw 500 yards and I was this awesome quarterback, but it was just this peace I had with him knowing that, “Hey, no matter what I’m going to face during college football, God and Jesus are going to be my identity. And whatever I face, I will not be moved.” I have great foundation in Him.”

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Now Purdy is one more win away from an unlikely Super Bowl LVII appearance.

Ryan Gaydos is Fox News Digital’s sports editor.