Brock Purdy thrives off being the underdog.

The 49ers star quarterback, infamously known as “Mr. Irrelevant” as the final pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, has become anything but irrelevant since taking over as the starter under center for San Francisco.

Still, former 49ers quarterback Jeff Garcia believes the continued doubt and criticism further fuel Purdy.

“I think he really carries that underdog mentality deep within him,” Garcia told NBC Sports Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco on Wednesday at Radio Row. “[He] doesn’t say it, but that drives him. He’s extremely intelligent.”

That is something, of course, Garcia “absolutely” can relate to.

After going undrafted and having to rebuild his pro football career in the CFL, Garcia had a late NFL breakout in his late 20s with the 49ers, stepping into the impossible task of following Hall of Famer Steve Young.

It hasn’t taken as long for Purdy to break out, but there’s still a connection.

Over the past four years, Purdy has established himself as one of the NFL’s most efficient quarterbacks, leading San Francisco to two NFC Championship Games and one Super Bowl.

“He’s the guy that’s always been underestimated in some sort of way, and yet, continues to prove himself,” Garcia added. “Whether that’s at the high school level, the collegiate level at Iowa State, and now, in the pros. Continuing to prove himself. And he’s got that drive, that dedication that is important to have at that position. He’s a gym rat. He’ll study film until he figures it out. He’ll keep his body in shape. He does just enough athletically to lengthen a play if necessary. But he’s such a great leader on the field without overdoing it. It comes naturally. He’s very unassuming. Cool, calm, and collected, like they used to call Joe [Montana].

“Brock has a lot of them to him. You see the moments of excitement and the little things he does after a score. But he is so even-keeled in a sense of just staying in the moment. I think it’s great. I think how he handles the position, how he executes the game is ahead of his time as far as years of experience in the league and ahead of the players that play his position at this level.

“And I don’t think he gets enough credit at his position.”

Purdy isn’t one to boast about himself, but Garcia — and many other current and former 49ers — have no issue doing so.

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