In a recent interview, 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy revealed the team almost went with Tom Brady as their signal caller this season
It’s hard not to compare the 49ers’ young quarterbacking sensation, Brock Purdy, to the legendary Tom Brady. While the second-year starter doesn’t have anywhere close to the GOAT’s accomplishments yet, their paths to success were very similar. As long-shot draft picks, they proved their critics wrong. But their journeys almost intertwined in a much different way, according to Purdy.
Would The 49ers Choose Brady Over Brock?
In a recent interview, Brock Purdy says that the Niners were eyeing Brady to be the man under center this season. In a recent conversation with ESPN’s Nick Wagoner, Purdy explained that head coach Kyle Shanahan and the 49ers tried to pursue Brady during the offseason.
Brock Purdy had led the team to the NFC Championship game before going down with an elbow injury. It was that health issue that had 49ers management looking toward a Hall of Fame insurance policy. However, Purdy said the team did reach out to him and let him know their interest in Tom Brady – which he respected. But at the same time, it was a bit of a bittersweet call for the San Francisco star.
“That meant so much to me,” Purdy said. “I remember him saying, ‘If we can get Tom Brady, we’re going to try to get him.’ And I was like, ‘Yeah, he’s the GOAT. I get it.’ But something deep down inside me was sort of like, ‘Dude, I just showed you that I can play well in this system. And we were one game away from the Super Bowl.’”
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Purdy Pushes The Niners To Potential Greatness
In hindsight, the 49ers are likely happy that they didn’t alter the trajectory of their precocious passer. Brock Purdy played at an MVP level in 2023, and he helped lead San Francisco to the top seed in the NFC Playoffs. They are the current favorite to represent the conference at Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas. Ironically, it’s the same city where Brady is now a minority NFL owner with the Raiders.
The next step for the 49ers and Purdy takes place on Saturday when they host the Packers at Levi’s Stadium. We’ll see if the newest San Francisco treat can play in this postseason like an old New England favorite used to.
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