Purdy Loses Bet, Dons Iowa Gear After Cyclones' Loss to Hawkeyes

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy recently paid off a bet by wearing apparel from the Iowa Hawkeyes, the rival of his alma mater, Iowa State. The bet stemmed from the annual football game between the two state universities, which the Hawkeyes won 16-13 this past Saturday.

Purdy, who was seen wearing a yellow Iowa hat and a grey long-sleeve shirt at a Thursday press conference, expressed his displeasure with the attire. "Any Hawkeye logo looks ugly to me. It sucks," Purdy told reporters. He had returned home just in time to watch the game after the 49ers' season opener in Melbourne, Australia, where they defeated the Los Angeles Rams 27-7.

Since Purdy joined the 49ers as the final pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, Iowa State has held a 3-2 record against Iowa. Last season, the Cyclones won the matchup 16-13. However, in 2023, Iowa secured a 20-13 victory, marking the first time Purdy lost their friendly wager with 49ers tight end George Kittle. That loss resulted in Purdy having to wear an Iowa Hawkeyes headpiece.

Reflecting on the bet, Purdy compared the current situation to previous instances. "The headgear sucked. Walking in with that, it was rough," he said. "But honestly, I don’t think this is that bad, compared to what George has done: the overalls and the Cowboy hat walking into a game. Him wearing my helmet." He added, "I feel like I’ve come up with the good ideas. Hopefully we get a little bit more spicy as the years come."

Kittle heightened the stakes by posting a selfie with Purdy on his Instagram story, captioning it, "@brock.purdy13 big Hawkeye fan!" The photo showed Purdy in the 49ers locker room, wearing an "Hawkeye Football" shirt.