As the offseason unfolded last season, the prevailing assumption was centered on Brock Purdy’s potential role as the starting quarterback for the 49ers, provided he successfully recovered from his elbow injury. However, now there have been revelations that put a new spin on the entirety of the 49ers 2023 season.

The narrative took an intriguing turn during a direct conversation between Purdy and coach Kyle Shanahan, introducing a new layer of uncertainty to his anticipated starting position past year. Shanahan articulated a unique scenario where he wanted to orchestrate the potential return of Tom Brady with Purdy riding the bench for a little while. 

49ers wanted to persuade Brady to un-retire

According to ESPN’s Nick Wagoner, Shanahan assured Purdy that the starting role would be his if he successfully recovered from the elbow injury sustained in the previous year’s NFC title game. There was a condition though— if the 49ers could persuade Brady, a childhood fan of the team, to make a comeback, Purdy would have to wait a while. “That meant so much to me,” Purdy later revealed. He decided to go forth with it, even though deep down he felt, “Dude, I just showed you that I can play well in this system.”

This consideration seems to overlook Brady’s prior rejection of the 49ers in favor of joining the Buccaneers in 2020, leading Tampa Bay to a Super Bowl victory (his seventh). It also brushes aside Brady’s public statements expressing his disdain for the Niners after not being picked by them in his draft and his categorical declaration that he would “never” cheer for them. These sentiments were reiterated in the lead-up to the 2022 game in Santa Clara, a significant occasion as it marked Purdy’s inaugural start in his career.

Brock Purdy shines against adversity  

Brock Purdy’s football narrative is a testament to resilience, with a journey that began when he was just 11 years old, reluctantly playing right tackle instead of quarterback. Despite an impressive rookie season that propelled the 49ers to the NFC title game, Purdy continued to face skepticism, even from his own head coach, Kyle Shanahan. The revelation that Shanahan considered pursuing the 46-year-old Tom Brady over the young and cost-effective Purdy, despite Brady’s challenging recent season, adds an unexpected layer to Purdy’s story.

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This revelation sheds light on Purdy’s unyielding competitive spirit, a quality that has garnered respect within the 49ers organization. In hindsight, particularly considering Purdy’s instrumental role in securing the NFC’s top seed and delivering a nearly MVP-worthy season, Shanahan may now acknowledge the significance of sticking with the young quarterback rather than pursuing Brady, highlighting Purdy’s impactful contribution to the team’s success.

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