Crazy! Brock Purdy and George Kittle, from the state of Iowa to a step from the NFL mountain top

I can take or leave the NFL, but who doesn’t enjoy the Super Bowl for one reason or another.

For instance, how much will the halftime performers annoy a certain segment of the population? That’s always fun.

The game itself? Usually, I’m rooting against someone or something, not for them. Not this year. Given that I don’t cover either Brock Purdy or George Kittle anymore, I hope their San Francisco team triumphs Sunday in Las Vegas.

Both are tremendous stories. You know them. Purdy went from Iowa State to the last pick in the 2022 NFL draft to the NFC championship. Kittle went from honorable mention All-Big Ten as an Iowa senior in 2016 to a 7-year pro with 460 regular-season catches for 6,274 yards and 37 touchdowns, a first-team All-Pro for the second time.

That a quarterback from Iowa State was the ninth and last player at his position picked in 2022 and is in his situation right now is, of course, a wildly unlikely story that became reality. He had 31 touchdown passes in the 2023 season.

How can you not like that?

Purdy has been one of the best things to ever happen to Kittle in San Francisco, and Kittle obviously is wonderful for Purdy.

Kittle, meanwhile, is one great ballplayer. His blocking alone merits the kudos he gets. His skill as a receiver puts him well over the top.

Even better in my mind, he is the bon vivant of the NFL. His persona is his persona. The guy seems to live with joy and passion 24/7. I’ve said it often. The NFL isn’t his last stop as a celebrity. He has Hollywood written all over him. I hope he doesn’t settle for the nonsense of the WWE and moves directly to Hollywood, which his pal Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson conquered.

It’s funny, the most-famous football former Hawkeye is the least Hawkeye-ish. Not the football part. Kittle has put in the work, physically and mentally. But in terms of personality, of being demonstrative and sometimes loud and playing with a smile on his face, that’s not really the picture of Iowa football. But he’s genuine, not manufactured.

However, Kittle isn’t remotely an I-me-mine guy. Selfish egomaniacs don’t block the way he blocks.

That both of these guys were in our midst at Iowa and none of us had an inkling they would reach the football heights they’ve climbed is fantastic. I have nothing against the Kansas City Chiefs and would have a good laugh at how a Chiefs win would rattle the cages of some of the loony-tune conspiracy theorists.

But I’d rather see Purdy-to-Kittle for the game-winner and watch both be feted Sunday night and for a long time to come.

Comments: (319) 398-8440; mike.hlas@thegazette.com