The nerves in the Purdy household on draft day 2022 were anything but subtle. Carrie Purdy, Brock’s mom, had to balance hope with reality. Her son was on the brink of either making the NFL or being forgotten as the undrafted ‘What could have been…’. So, what did she do? She ordered balloons. She bought a cake. Brock Purdy hated it. “Mom, what if it doesn’t happen?” he asked. She shrugged it off. “If not, I’ll toss the cake.” Her belief wasn’t performative: it was a mother’s instinct.

Carrie told everyone in town to hold tight—don’t show up unless Brock gets drafted. But even with that contingency plan, Brock was fidgety. He tried to leave in the fifth round. Chick-fil-A was calling. His mom said no. That’s the mood Brock was in before he became the 262nd and final pick of the draft. And now? Three years later, he’s the $265 million man. QB1 for the 49ers. But instead of ditching that draft-day awkwardness, he leaned into it. This time, the cake stayed. And yes, it was chocolate again.

“It was just a simple cake my mom got at the grocery store,” Purdy told KTVU. “She [Mama Purdy] called ahead of time and picked it up. I just like chocolate cake; it was special to me.” There was nothing Instagram-worthy about it. No fondant, no fancy bakery. Just a mom, her son, and a reminder that she never stopped betting on him—even when he wasn’t so sure himself. The same gesture that embarrassed him on draft day now felt like the most fitting way to toast a $265 million milestone.

Purdy could’ve celebrated with a mountain of catered meals, a designer suit, and a three-tier custom dessert. But this is the same guy who used to live with Nick Zakelji even after marriage in a flat. That’s Brock, his wife Jenna, and Nick. So, his contract didn’t change the coordinates of his values. And the cake? It wasn’t just dessert—it was a callback to the belief Carrie refused to pack away, even when Brock told her to tone it down.

That full-circle moment—the balloons, the cake, the quiet confidence—is what fans now understand about Brock Purdy. He’s not trying to be flashy. He’s trying to stay grounded in the same house that once had a cake waiting to be thrown away. Only now, it’s the centerpiece.

Brock Purdy’s new contract comes with some hits

Brock Purdy has put ink on the paper for one of the biggest deals in 49ers history. $265 million, five years, face-of-the-franchise stuff. Some basic math, and it’ll tell you that he should be taking home more than fifty per year. But he won’t even take home half of that $53 million per year average. Yeah, welcome to California, where the taxes hit harder than any sack.

Let’s break it down. Purdy’s new deal comes with $181 million guaranteed, but thanks to Uncle Sam and the lovely state of California, he’s coughing up more than $28 million per year just in taxes. That’s $19.5 million to the feds, $7.5 million to Cali, over a million in payroll taxes, and, of course, $1,686 for state disability.

So what does that leave our QB1 with? Roughly $24.6 million per year. That’s still serious money, don’t get it twisted. But  it’s not the eye-popping $53M average that’s been flashing across every sports ticker. It’s less than half. “Bruh really lost a whole Josh Allen contract to taxes,” one fan joked online. And honestly? They’re not wrong. Allen’s deal in Buffalo is basically what Purdy just handed over to the IRS and Sacramento.

Now, don’t go feeling too sorry for him, Purdy’s not headed for ramen noodles anytime soon. However, if you’ve ever questioned why athletes pick Florida or Texas teams, this is Exhibit A. No state income tax. Simple math. Still, Purdy seems unfazed. The kid went from Mr. Irrelevant to Super Bowl starter in two seasons. Taking a tax sack probably isn’t the worst thing that’s happened to him in a pocket.