The last player selected in the draft is known as ‘Mr Irrelevant’. Former San Francisco 49ers receiver Paul Salata founded the nickname in 1976 and established ‘Irrelevant Week’,, external a string of events to “celebrate football’s underdog” and raise money for charity.

Each year Salata, who died in 2021 aged 94, would announce the last pick, with his daughter taking over in 2014, and invite him to spend a week being feted in California.

After being selected with the 262nd and final pick in 2022, Brock Purdy took up the offer, which included sailing, surfing, a visit to a baseball game and a pub crawl with fans. He was showered with gifts and embraced his new nickname, wearing a 49ers jersey with ‘Mr Irrelevant 262’ on the back.

Yet the quarterback ended the season one game short of the Super Bowl after being thrust into the San Francisco 49ers’ starting line-up in December, starting his NFL career with a remarkable winning run.

I’m told he’s no longer keen on the nickname. After all, he’s an established NFL starter now and managed to reach the Super Bowl in his second season, with the 49ers losing to Patrick Mahomes’ Kansas City Chiefs in February.

Image source, Getty Images