San Francisco 49ers great John Taylor didn't mince words on Monday night while discussing quarterback Brock Purdy and wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk. The former NFL wide receiver, who was inducted into the Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame, took issue with those who downplay Purdy's accomplishments. Some attribute the quarterback's success to head coach Kyle Shanahan's system and a talented supporting cast.
"A lot of people didn't want to give Brock Purdy his just due," Taylor said, per Cam Inman of The Mercury News. "'Oh, he's got this, he's got that. If he didn't have the group that he had, he wouldn't be the quarterback that he is.'"
Taylor reflected on two Hall of Fame quarterbacks whom he caught passes from during his illustrious NFL career—Joe Montana and Steve Young. They also had an impressive supporting cast.
"If Joe didn't have the group that he had, Joe wouldn't have been Joe," Taylor asserted. "If Steve didn't have the group that he had, Steve wouldn't have been Steve. I've never seen one of those two quarterbacks block for himself, hike the ball to himself, throw the ball to himself and go catch it.
"But they always say, 'Oh, if he didn't have the surrounding party.' Well, that's how teams win. That's how championships are made—of all different parts, not just one person."
Purdy set a single-season franchise record this past season with 4,280 passing yards and helped lead the 49ers to the Super Bowl in just his second NFL season. He aims to continue his success and win a championship in his third year.
Turning to Aiyuk, Taylor recounted an early encounter with the talented receiver and a conversation with general manager John Lynch.
"I remember being at training camp, and John Lynch asked me [what I thought] of Brandon Aiyuk," Taylor reminisced. "I said, 'You want my honest opinion?' He said, 'Yeah.' I said, 'He's a hell of a receiver. He's just thinking too much. He just has to go play, let his ability take over.' I said I know that feeling. In his mind, he's wondering, and he has to stop wondering."
During the 2021 season, Taylor had a chance to offer advice directly to Aiyuk on the bus ahead of a practice before the NFC Championship Game against the Los Angeles Rams.
Taylor recalled, "I introduced myself to him and told him, 'Brandon, listen, I watched your whole career at ASU. You were a hell of a receiver. This is just my advice to you, and you can take it or leave it: Stop overthinking. Just go play. Let your ability take over.'"
Aiyuk led the team with 1,342 receiving yards last season, marking his second consecutive season surpassing the 1,000-yard mark. He awaits a new contract from the 49ers, which is expected to make him one of the NFL's highest-paid receivers.
With Deebo Samuel already commanding a top-tier salary and the recent drafting of wide receiver Ricky Pearsall with the No. 31 overall pick, Taylor anticipates eventual changes to the team's receiving corps.
"Honestly, so somebody's gone," Taylor speculated. "They aren't going to say it right now, but somebody is gone."
