SANTA CLARA — Less than a month after Fred Warner and Brock Purdy experienced one of the most bitter defeats imaginable, the real world took over and bestowed both with life-altering events that altered the trajectory of their existence.
The last time the 49ers’ defensive and offensive leaders were in a press conference setting was on Feb. 11 in Las Vegas following a 25-22 overtime loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVIII.
Warner was speaking in hushed tones about how much it hurt, with the added heartbreak of teammate and close friend Dre Greenlaw suffering a torn Achilles in the first half while simply running onto the field.
Purdy was doing his best to explain how the 49ers’ offense managed just 19 points in regulation. He led the 49ers from behind three times and it wasn’t enough to conquer Patrick Mahomes.
Twenty-five days after the Super Bowl, Warner was a father for the first time, as his wife Sydney gave birth to Beau Anthony Warner on March 7. Two days after that, Purdy and his fiancee Jenna Brandt were married in Des Moines, Iowa.
From the lowest of lows in a sports sense to pure bliss.
Both men touched on their offseason life changes Monday in a media availability session following a pre-draft press conference with John Lynch. The grind continues, with the goal of winning the last game to share with families.
“Obviously I had to get over that loss pretty quick because I had something that was really important coming up,” Warner said. “I think now I have even more to play for in this game. I already had a lot of motivation, a lot of inner drive, but to look at my son every day and know I’m playing for something else as well, it could get pretty scary.”
For Purdy, his wedding and honeymoon in the Turks and Caicos Islands were a welcome respite from a non-stop whirlwind: Last pick in the draft. Goes from No. 3 quarterback to No. 2 and eventually the starter. Tears the UCL of his throwing elbow in the NFC Championship Game loss to Philadelphia. Surgery. Non-stop rehab through the offseason. On a gradual throwing program in training camp.
Finally, a second season in which he was a Most Valuable Player candidate, passes for a club record 4,280 yards and authors a remarkable 34-31 win over the Detroit Lions for the NFC title, erasing a 17-point halftime deficit. When the Super Bowl ended, Purdy found himself with something resembling free time for the first time since he was in college at Iowa State.
“It’s nice that I don’t have to be on this schedule and regime of rehab, rehab, rehab, get healthy and stress about if I’m going to make it back for the season or not,” Purdy said. “It’s been nice to marry Jenna and have an offseason to breathe and reflect because the last two years it’s been go, go, go.”
With the 49ers having advanced to at least the NFC title game in four of the last five years, Warner conceded it’s a mind trick to start all over again.
“The emotional toll of, ‘Damn, we were so close,’ it takes everything out of you,” Warner said. When you come back you’ve got to be ready to go because nobody cares about what happened last year. I’m rejuvenated, ready to go. Everything’s set, so let’s go.”
As usual, Warner is relentlessly positive about new defensive coordinator Nick Sorensen and assistant Brandon Staley, who will attempt to reshape the 49ers’ defense in its own image after it faltered at times under Steve Wilks.
He’s fired up about De’Vondre Campbell, a former All-Pro from Green Bay, and Ezekiel Turner, a linebacker and special teams demon from Arizona.
Greenlaw, Warner said, is making strides in his Achilles’ rehab.
“His boot is getting smaller every day,” Warner said.
Warner’s sense of humor has remained intact as he attempted to describe an indescribably bad Opening Day first pitch at Oracle Park after being invited by the Giants. (Deebo Samuel wasn’t much better.)
“I guess that’s what happens when you don’t warm up,” Warner said.
Fred Warner and Deebo Samuel threw out the ceremonial first pitches ⚾
#BayAreaUnite pic.twitter.com/VmYvX4wVHc— SF Giants on NBCS (@NBCSGiants) April 5, 2024
Given an out when it was suggested newborn-induced sleep deprivation was the problem, Warner took the excuse and said he hoped for another shot at it.
“Sleep deprivation, I like that,” Warner said.
Purdy, who spoke with the Bay Area News Group at his football camp at Levi’s Stadium on April 14, reiterated how excited he was to get going again, his desire for incremental improvement and and setting aside a massive contract he’ll be due after the 2024 season.
With the draft coming up Thursday, Purdy will be fodder for another round of “Mr. Irrelevant” and debates about how quarterbacks are scouted and developed. He said no borderline prospects have sought him out for advice.
“Everyone’s story and path is different,” Purdy said. “To live out the same way that some other guy did, that isn’t right. Everyone’s got their own story. Obviously I’m a big believer that it doesn’t matter where you’re drafted, it’s what you do when you get there with that opportunity.”