Kyle Shanahan knew Brock Purdy was the 49ers' answer during quarterback's first training camp
Brock Purdy has authored one of the most unexpected stories in NFL history with his rise from the final pick in the draft to the starting quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers in the Super Bowl, but head coach Kyle Shanahan knew early on that such a trajectory was possible. Purdy will lead San Francisco's […]
Brock Purdy has authored one of the most unexpected stories in NFL history with his rise from the final pick in the draft to the starting quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers in the Super Bowl, but head coach Kyle Shanahan knew early on that such a trajectory was possible.
Purdy will lead San Francisco's offense in Super Bowl 58 against the Kansas City Chiefs a week from Sunday, having put together a spectacular first full season as the starter in which he was in the MVP discussion before helping the Niners to a pair of comeback playoff victories to punch their ticket to Las Vegas.
Any claim from Shanahan that he foresaw Purdy producing to this level over the course of his first two years in the NFL would be met with skepticism. However, according to 49ers owner Jed York, he knew early on that he had something special with the 262nd pick in the draft.
Shanahan expressed that belief to York a week into their training camp ahead of last season.
"He grabs me after practice and says, ‘We got to talk,’" York said. "And that’s generally not a good thing when your coach tells you, ‘We got to talk.'"
The message: "I think our third-string quarterback is our best quarterback."
It was a statement that came at a time when 2021 third overall pick Trey Lance was set to start, the Niners having traded three first-round picks for the right to draft him, with Jimmy Garoppolo eventually taking a pay cut to stick around as the backup.
"One thing owners don't love to hear when they’ve invested money and or draft picks, or both, into people and the last pick in the draft is the guy we think is the best," York added. "That’s generally not great news, but he’s honest."
Elaborating on Shanahan's explanation, York said: "Obviously, we invested in Trey and Trey (was) doing a good job, we’re going to do everything we can and we’re not going to change that. And we’re not going to change the depth chart, but I think Brock will end up being our quarterback at some point."
Shanahan was proven correct earlier than anticipated, as a Week 2 injury to Lance and a broken foot suffered by Garoppolo in Week 13 catapulted him into the starting role, one in which he thrived right off the bat.
York was dubious of Shanahan's prior statement when Purdy played in garbage time against the Chiefs in a Week 7 loss. The 49ers were blown out that day but, with Purdy under center, they are the betting favorites to defeat Kansas City and lift the Lombardi Trophy.
"Brock threw one ball into the stands, and I may or may not have had some sarcastic comments for Kyle postgame," York joked.
"But when Brock took over, we had a calm about it. But there was a sense that nothing catches you by surprise. You might not like everything that Kyle tells you, but he’s always open and honest in the moment."
Shanahan's honest assessment proved completely accurate and, after he demonstrated composure in extreme adversity in the 49ers' epic comeback win over the Detroit Lions in the NFC Championship Game, that overriding sense of calm about their quarterback should remain as he gets set to play under one of the biggest sporting spotlights in the world.
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