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Brock Purdy is coming off a memorable rookie year with the San Francisco 49ers. Could he someday become the franchise’s next legendary quarterback?
Sure, it’s way too early to mention Purdy in an "NFL Quarterback Legend” discussion, seeing that he only has one season under his belt. But it’s possible he could eventually morph into a larger-than-life megastar.
Nothing is impossible. Nobody thought sixth-round draft pick Tom Brady would develop into a Hall of Famer, right?
Speaking of late-round picks, Purdy was the “Mr. Irrelevant” of the 2022 NFL Draft, meaning he was the last player drafted (seventh round, 262nd overall pick).
He began the 2022-23 campaign as the 49ers’ third-string quarterback. But after starter Trey Lance and backup Jimmy Garoppolo both suffered season-ending injuries, the Iowa State product emerged as the starting QB and led the team to a perfect 5-0 record to close out the regular season.
During the playoffs, Purdy helped the 49ers pick up wins over the Seattle Seahawks and Dallas Cowboys before losing to the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Championship Game.
Purdy was injured during the loss to the Eagles. He’ll have surgery on February 22 to repair the tear of the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in his right elbow. He’s expected to recover in about six months, meaning he should be ready to go for next season.
Joe Montana and Steve Young are the greatest 49ers quarterbacks of all time
The 49ers have employed several quality quarterbacks throughout their history. But you definitely can't forget about the franchise's two-greatest signal-callers of all time: Joe Montana and Steve Young.
It's crazy to think they were on the team at the same time. Rarely do you see two first-ballot Hall of Fame quarterbacks on the same roster. It sort of reminds you of when the Green Bay Packers started Brett Favre and had Aaron Rodgers as their backup.
Montana played in San Francisco from 1979 until 1992, leading the team to four Super Bowl victories. He also won three Super Bowl MVPs and two regular season MVPs.
While most fans consider Tom Brady to be the greatest quarterback ever, there are still many people out there who would give the honor to Montana.
Meanwhile, Young, who served as Montana's backup for a few years, eventually became "The Man" in San Francisco. The former BYU star led the Niners to a victory in Super Bowl XXIX. He was named the Most Valuable Player of that game. He also took home regular season MVP awards in both 1992 and 1994.
In order for Purdy to ever be mentioned in the same sentence as Montana and Young, he has a lot to accomplish. But if he can stay healthy and plays a long time with the franchise, you never know what could happen down the road.
