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The San Francisco 49ers were adamant that Brock Purdy would be their starting quarterback heading into the 2023 season. That doesn't mean the team didn't have to at least look into other options in case Purdy wasn't available to start Week 1.
One of those options being discussed was an attempt to entice Tom Brady out of retirement to play a single season for his hometown and childhood team.
Purdy, recovering from major surgery to repair the torn ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in his right elbow, sustained during the NFC Championship Game, left uncertainty about his availability for the start of the regular season. While the 49ers were optimistic about his recovery, the uncertainty led them to consider a bold move: adding the future Hall of Fame quarterback.
"Yes, I was serious about it," head coach Kyle Shanahan told Peter King of NBC Sports. "As we talked, I'm looking at Brock, and he's got his arm in a sling, and I really am not sure I've got a quarterback who's going to be ready for the start of the 2023 season. That started all of this."
Shanahan and general manager John Lynch engaged in discussions, but nothing materialized. While Purdy believed he had earned the starting role through his rookie play, helping guide the 49ers to the doorstep of another Super Bowl appearance, the young quarterback certainly understood the desire to add someone like Brady to a championship-ready roster.
"I actually thought it was giving Brock the biggest compliment," Shanahan said. "I let him know he's our guy long-term. No question. And if Tom Brady wanted to come here and start for one year, that's the only way you're not starting when you're healthy this year. That's pretty cool. I wanted to assure him, 'Don't worry. You're our guy. But how cool would it be if Tom Brady would be the quarterback here for one season? How cool would it be for you to learn from him?'
"I mean, if Brock never got hurt, this wouldn't have been a consideration at all. I'd never have brought it up. But I've got to think about the team. What if he's not ready in September?"
Lynch also spoke on the topic this past week, saying, "So when it first happened, we're really searching, like, 'What are we going to do at quarterback? We don't know if we're going to have Brock back.' Trey [Lance] had been hurt as well. He kind of [sustained] a vicious ankle injury, and that didn't look really good. So we had to look at all our options."
Lynch continued, "But it wasn't us saying to Brock, 'Hey, we're bringing in Brady. If not, maybe you're the starter,'" Lynch clarified. "It was, I think, more of a sign of belief in him that, 'Hey, you took us [far] in your rookie year. We believe that you're our guy. As you're healing up, just understand we may have to go secure some other options.'"
It turned out Purdy was ready for Week 1. Surprisingly, the recovering quarterback was prepared for the start of training camp, long before anyone expected him to suit up for practices. The second-year player had a phenomenal season, throwing for 4,280 passing yards—a single-season franchise record—and earning a spot as an MVP finalist.
Most importantly, the 49ers are back in the Super Bowl thanks in part to Purdy's efforts. They will compete for the team's sixth Vince Lombardi Trophy on Sunday.
49ers' Brock Purdy reflects on NFCCG, first start, surgery recovery, family's Tom Brady plans
By David Bonilla
May 17
On Thursday night, Brock Purdy joined several former San Francisco 49ers quarterbacks at the Dwight Clark Legacy Series event in San Jose. During the event, Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area, one of the moderators, asked the 24-year-old to rewind a couple of years and reflect on how he burst onto the NFL scene in 2022.
Purdy's first significant playing time came when the 49ers lost two quarterbacks that season—first Trey Lance and then Jimmy Garoppolo. Purdy stepped in for Garoppolo against the Miami Dolphins, unaware that he would be the starter moving forward.
"Jimmy went down, and they're like, 'All right, you're up,'" Purdy shared. "So I'm in tune to what we're doing against Miami's defense and stuff on the sidelines. And so, when they said that I was
Bucky Brooks identifies biggest challenge for Kyle Shanahan as 49ers seek Super Bowl return
By David Bonilla
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The San Francisco 49ers are on a mission to rebound from their February Super Bowl defeat, eyeing a return to the NFL title game and aiming to lift the Vince Lombardi Trophy at the season's end. What stands as their greatest hurdle in achieving this goal? Is it the Kansas City Chiefs, who claimed victory over them in the Super Bowl and will face them again in a Week 7 rematch? Or is it the challenge of overcoming adversity, such as injuries?
According to Bucky Brooks, it's actually something else entirely. The NFL analyst believes that the biggest challenge facing the 49ers this season will be refocusing after the heartbreak of their
Is this the best wide receiver group Kyle Shanahan has had with the 49ers?
By Marc Adams
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If you want wide receivers, the San Francisco 49ers have you covered. In addition to bringing back their top three receivers from 2023, Brandon Aiyuk, Deebo Samuel, and Jauan Jennings, the 49ers are also bringing back Chris Conley, Danny Gray, Ronnie Bell, Trent Taylor, and others. And if that wasn't enough, they drafted Ricky Pearsall (Florida) and Jacob Cowing (Arizona) and signed undrafted rookie free agent, Terique Owens (Missouri State).
That's a solid receiving corp, led by two Pro Bowlers and a guy with a knack for picking up first downs. But where does this group rank among those Kyle Shanahan has had in San Francisco?
We can't compare this group to those from the 1980s and 1990s. That would be unfair. Any wide receiver group with Jerry Rice, the greatest
49ers reportedly signing DL Shakel Brown after tryout
By David Bonilla
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Shakel Brown was among several players who participated in a tryout in front of coaches during the San Francisco 49ers' rookie minicamp last week. Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 reports that the team was impressed enough with the defensive lineman to sign him.
Defensive lineman Shakel Brown @TROYUnews signed with #49ers after rookie minicamp tryout per a league source
