Last offseason, 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan made clear how serious the organization was about pursuing future Hall of Fame quarterback Tom Brady.
Following quarterback Brock Purdy’s elbow injury in the NFC Championship game against the Eagles in January 2023 and his subsequent surgery, Shanahan—who is currently getting ready to play the Chiefs in the Super Bowl in 2024—told NBC Sports’ Peter King that Purdy’s Week 1 availability was the reason behind the flirtation with the 46-year-old Brady.
“While we were speaking, I noticed that Brock had his arm in a sling. I’m not sure if I have a quarterback ready for the 2023 season to begin.” Shanahan stated in this week’s “Football Morning in America” column that “that started all of this.”
The 262nd overall choice in the 2023 NFL Draft, Purdy—dubbed Mr. Irrelevant—had just led the 49ers to an NFC Championship game after filling in for an injured Jimmy Garoppolo in the closing minutes of the season.
On January 28, 2024, 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy celebrates with coach Kyle Shanahan the team’s NFC Championship victory.
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On January 28, 2024, 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy celebrates the team’s victory in the NFC Championship game alongside head coach Kyle Shanahan.
Getty Photographs
Even though Shanahan, 44, told the 24-year-old quarterback that he is the 49ers’ “guy long-term,” the plan was for Purdy to be moved to quarterback #2 if Brady, a native of California, decided to play for his home team for a season.
Shanahan remarked, “I actually thought it was paying Brock the biggest compliment.” “I tell him he’s our man for the long haul. Without a doubt. And the only way you’re not beginning when is if Tom Brady decided to come here and start for a year.
Shanahan claims that the Brady backup plan “wouldn’t have been a consideration at all” if Purdy hadn’t sustained the injury.
“I never would have mentioned it. However, I must consider the team,” Shanahan remarked.
Purdy and the 49ers completed with a 12-5 record throughout the regular season. Later, on January 28, they defeated the Lions 34-31 in the NFC Championship game to secure their spot in the 2024 Super Bowl.
In an ESPN interview prior to the NFC championship game, Purdy discussed that exchange with Shanahan.
Purdy remarked, “That meant so much to me.” “I recall him telling us that we would try to get Tom Brady if we could. Yes, he’s the greatest of all time, I thought. I understand. However, I secretly felt like, “Dude, I just proved to you that I can function well in this system.” And the Super Bowl was just one game away. More than anything, I thought, “All right, let’s head out.”
After 23 seasons, Brady, the former quarterback for the Buccaneers and Patriots, decided to end his career in February of last year.
The seven-time Super Bowl champion seems prepared to embrace the next phase of his career as Fox’s top NFL analyst, which will start this autumn, despite his apparent jokes about unretiring in May.
It was never expected of the Patriots to win six Super Bowl titles between 2001 and 2018 and to dominate the AFC East for eleven straight years.
And now we have the Chiefs, who will play the 49ers in Las Vegas on February 11 in hopes of winning their third Lombardi Trophy in four years. This will be their fourth Super Bowl appearance in five years.
Just as the Damn Yankees were detested during those championship years, so too did the Patriots.
The Chiefs? A kinder, gentler Dynasty with no Deflategate or Spygate, a head coach that everyone loves, and a quarterback that everyone likes.
Last offseason, 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan made clear how serious the organization was about pursuing future Hall of Fame quarterback Tom Brady.
Following quarterback Brock Purdy’s elbow injury in the NFC Championship game against the Eagles in January 2023 and his subsequent surgery, Shanahan—who is currently getting ready to play the Chiefs in the Super Bowl in 2024—told NBC Sports’ Peter King that Purdy’s Week 1 availability was the reason behind the flirtation with the 46-year-old Brady.
“While we were speaking, I noticed that Brock had his arm in a sling. I’m not sure if I have a quarterback ready for the 2023 season to begin.” That’s where it all began,” Shanahan stated in this
The 262nd overall choice in the 2023 NFL Draft, Purdy—dubbed Mr. Irrelevant—had just led the 49ers to an NFC Championship game after filling in for an injured Jimmy Garoppolo in the closing minutes of the season.
Even though Shanahan, 44, told the 24-year-old quarterback that he is the 49ers’ “guy long-term,” the plan was for Purdy to be moved to quarterback #2 if Brady, a native of California, decided to play for his home team for a season.
Shanahan remarked, “I actually thought it was paying Brock the biggest compliment.” “I tell him he’s our man for the long haul. Without a doubt. The only way Tom Brady wouldn’t start this year when healthy is if he had chosen to come here and play for a year. That is really awesome. I wanted to tell him, “You’re not alone.” You are our man. However, how awesome would it be to have Tom Brady start at quarterback for us for a single season? How awesome would that be if
Shanahan claims that the Brady backup plan “wouldn’t have been a consideration at all” if Purdy hadn’t sustained the injury.
“I never would have mentioned it. However, I must consider the team,” Shanahan remarked.
Purdy and the 49ers completed with a 12-5 record throughout the regular season. Later, on January 28, they defeated the Lions 34-31 in the NFC Championship game to secure their spot in the 2024 Super Bowl.
In an ESPN interview prior to the NFC championship game, Purdy discussed that exchange with Shanahan.
Purdy remarked, “That meant so much to me.” “I recall him telling us that we would try to get Tom Brady if we could. Yes, he’s the greatest of all time, I thought. I understand. However, I secretly felt like, “Dude, I just proved to you that I can function well in this system.” And the Super Bowl was just one game away. More than anything, I thought, “All right, let’s head out.”
