From Paint-Stained Hands to the Tears of a Veteran – Brock Purdy and the 49ers’ Veterans Day Gesture Inspires the Bay Area
Santa Clara, California – November 2025
There were no roaring crowds or flashing cameras — just a calm morning beneath the soft Bay Area fog. Brock Purdy and several members of the San Francisco 49ers traded their jerseys for work gloves, joining volunteers to help build a home for a U.S. veteran family. They painted fences, planted trees, and carried supplies — quiet acts of gratitude that reflected the 49ers’ soul and the spirit of California itself.
The new home, located in San Jose, was built for Navy Petty Officer Daniel Ortiz, a Purple Heart recipient who served in Afghanistan and now raises three children on his own. The $520,000 project, fully funded by the 49ers Foundation, marked the beginning of the “Niners Build a Home” program, launched in partnership with Operation Homefront. Each year, the team pledges to build a home for a veteran’s family across California.
When the house was completed, Purdy — his shirt smeared with gray paint — handed Ortiz the keys with a calm, steady voice. “Football taught me how to compete,” he said, “but men like you taught me what real courage means. We play for victories — you fought for freedom. Every time I step on that field, I’ll try to play with your kind of heart.” The moment left everyone around silent.
Team CEO Jed York, visibly moved, spoke shortly after. “This isn’t about football — it’s about gratitude,” he said. “The 49ers have always believed that greatness begins with giving. Today, we didn’t just build a house — we built a reminder of what family and honor truly mean.” His words resonated across the crowd, capturing what made the 49ers’ culture so unique — the union of pride, compassion, and purpose.
As the sun set over Levi’s Stadium, the 49ers stood beside Ortiz and his family. A bronze plaque was placed at the doorway: “Built by the San Francisco 49ers — For Those Who Built Our Freedom.” Photos of Purdy covered in paint, Ortiz hugging his kids, and York smiling through tears soon spread online. And in that single day, the 49ers reminded the world — true victory isn’t measured in touchdowns, but in humanity.
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