The journey from being ‘Mr. Irrelevant’ to putting a 180 spin on it was a tumultuous one for Brock Purdy. Especially after becoming the Pro Bowl champion and winning pivotal games for the 49ers. Since he was chosen as the final pick of the 2022 NFL draft, earning him the infamous ‘Irrelevant’ nickname, Brock Purdy has proved himself through and through. However, for 49ers Hall of Famer Patrick Willis, Purdy is still second to someone who has a controversial presence in the NFL.

Brock Purdy and Co. lost the Super Bowl 2024 after a cutting-edge competition against Patrick Mahomes and Co., falling short of a mere 3 points. The shot at the Lombardi trophy was monumental for Purdy, as he became the lowest-drafted QB to reach the Super Bowl. Despite that, Colin Kaepernick, a former 49er, beat Brock Purdy to be the best QB in the eyes of Patrick Willis. Willis had his reasons for picking the controversial ‘blackballed’ star of the NFL as his primary choice. It’s because the two shared a few years in the 49ers together. Apart from being a solid teammate of the Hall of Famer, Kaepernick has a steely reputation as a ‘beast’ in 2012, something that he did not end his career with.

There was even a sideline video of how surprised Willis was with Kaepernick’s running speed during the NFC Divisional win over the Green Bay Packers. So unsurprisingly, Willis has never shied away from praising Kaepernick, once again making him 1A and Purdy 1B. “He did what he needed to do. When we were playing, I know it may not be it may not have been in a way that a traditional quarterback throwing way like in comparisons but man him, you. Man, you guys were something electrifying. So yeah, I would most definitely I have to go with Kap,” Willis said, igniting another debate in the NFL, Colin Kaepernick v Brock Purdy.

Patrick Willis on Brock Purdy

While Kaepernick was surely his first pick, Willis was not ignoring all that Brock Purdy gave to the 49ers, even as a rookie. Given Kaepernick’s slither with his legs, many of the phenomenal and pivotal moves from Purdy in the playoffs might be usual touchdowns for Kaepernick. All it took for Kaepernick was one look to dart across the field, so much so that the opponents had to put spies on him.

On the other hand, Purdy has amassed several records highlighting his journey as an exceptional QB. Not only is he the first ever ‘Mr Irrelevant’ to throw a TD in a regular season, but also is the first B in NFL history to win his first six career starts and throw at least two touchdown passes in each of those starts. Moreover, Purdy also registered a passer rating of  95.0 or higher in each of those 6 starts.

READ ALSO: Patrick Willis Surprisingly Selects Colin Kaepernick & Snubs Brock Purdy as the 49ers Lead QB in the Super Bowl; Reveals Reason

Brock Purdy has also tied with some of the most exceptional QBs in the history of the NFL like Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady for most games with a passer rating over 140 in a season. So, which side do you pick? Kaepernick or Purdy? Let us know below!