San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy could become the first rookie quarterback to start a Super Bowl. But first, he'll need to get past the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday. Purdy will become just the fifth rookie quarterback to start a conference championship game since 1970. The other four lost their starts.
The other quarterbacks were Shaun King of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1999), Ben Roethlisberger of the Pittsburgh Steelers (2004), Joe Flacco of the Baltimore Ravens (2008), and Mark Sanchez of the New York Jets (2009). Three of those quarterbacks were first-round picks. King was a second-round pick.
Purdy's emergence since taking over for an injured Jimmy Garoppolo in Week 13 caught the NFL world's attention because the rookie quarterback wasn't a first- or second-round pick. He wasn't a third- or a fourth-rounder either. Purdy was a seventh-round pick. Not only that, he was the last overall pick—No. 262—in last year's draft.
Yet, here he is. Purdy has overcome the odds and proven he belongs. The rookie quarterback has yet to lose a game in which he started or played most of the snaps. He's played a significant role in each of the 49ers' last eight games—all wins.
This week, Bleacher Report reminded fans that Purdy was the final overall pick in last year's draft, noting, "Brock Purdy's been proving the doubters wrong from the jump. Can't write a better script for the rookie." (h/t The Spun)
One future Hall of Fame quarterback even responded to the post, sending a message to the 23-year-old Purdy, who is set to make his third playoff start.
"Prove em wrong or Prove em right!" Tom Brady replied in the comments.
Brady, of course, knows what it is like to have doubters while entering the NFL. The quarterback was pick No. 199 of the 2000 NFL Draft.
On Sunday, Purdy can make his way into the NFL history books.