Madison Kwiecinski – Editor-in-Chief 

Mvk5945@psu.edu 

Mr. Irrelevant, the not-so-kind nickname given to the last player drafted in the NFL draft each year, has never held such a critical role in the NFL. 

Brock Purdy, this year’s Mr. Irrelevant and the 49ers last draft pick before this season is continuing to defy and exceed expectation in a way no Mr. Irrelevant has ever done before. 

After last week’s game, where Brock Pury remained undefeated since his time starting on the field, the 49ers will compete for the NFC Championship. The 49ers will face off against the Philadelphia Eagles next Sunday for the division championship title and a spot in this year’s Super Bowl, on February 12. 

When regarding the titles Mr. Irrelevant, it makes fans wonder whether this is something Purdy took to heart. Some people say all press is good press, but the nickname has brought little more than ceremonious benefit to those who have held it in the past. 

“I don’t look at football like it’s literally everything, like it’s do or die or anything like that. It’s a game and it’s my job and I take it very seriously but at the end of the day I know that I’m not defined by wins or losses as a person,” Purdy stated prior to the game against Dallas. “It’s not who I am, I’m not a quarterback, I wasn’t born just to be a quarterback and play football and that’s it. I have a life. At the same time, I’m a competitor and I love to compete and want to win at all costs.” 

Purdy was not supposed to get his opportunity to shine this year, as he was a 3rd string Quarterback for the 49ers who they likely never expected to touch the field. Purdy was chosen 262nd, and entirely last in the draft, but now he is on a seven game win streak preparing to try to win it all. 

The 2019 Mr. Irrelevant, Caleb Wilson of the Arizona Cardinals, seems to be excited about how well Purdy is currently doing with his title. 

“It would definitely change tha respect level as a selection. It would be extremely impressive and I’d definitely be rooting for him,” Wilson said. “The Mr. Irrelevant selection would be a little bit more appreciated and even a little more respected if he was able to win that.” 

Mr. Irrelevant has a long history in the NFL, dating back to 1976 when a week-long event called “Irrelevant Week” was founded to honor the last pick. Some of the festivities that occur for Irrelevant Week include a trip to Disneyland, a regatta, a gold tournament, and a roast. The week closes with a banquet, in which Mr. Irrelevant is bestowed with a Lowsman Trophy. The Lowsman trophy is a play on the Heisman Trophy which depicts a player fumbling the football on top of the trophy. 

Regardless of how the rest of the season goes, Brock Purdy is a player for the history books, making a name out of the Mr. Irrelevant title in a way unlike anyone before him. Watch out for next week’s game to see if Purdy can take the team all the way to the Super Bowl.