Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Montana appeared on the Rich Eisen Show Thursday in New Orleans ahead of Super Bowl LIX, sharing his thoughts on the contract situation between his former team, the San Francisco 49ers, and their young quarterback, Brock Purdy.
After three seasons on a bargain rookie deal as the last overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, Purdy is eligible for a contract extension. His pay raise is expected to be substantial, with Purdy poised to land the largest contract in franchise history and become one of the NFL's highest-paid players.
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"You've got to pay him," Montana told Eisen. "I can show you four or five guys in the league making tons of money that haven't produced anywhere near what he's been able to do. And they just had one of those years where guys are getting hurt offensively, defensively."
Injuries devastated the 49ers' roster this season, leading to a disappointing 6-11 finish. Purdy, who set record-breaking numbers in 2023, saw a dip in production with many of his playmakers sidelined.
Offseason drama didn't help the 49ers get off to a strong start.
"Craziness in the beginning of the year with talking trades with the wide receiver (Brandon Aiyuk), and then he gets hurt," Montana continued. "They just had one of those years you just can't wait to get behind you."
When asked if Purdy is the 49ers' quarterback of the future, Montana said, "Yeah, I think he's got a good understanding."
Montana also noted that the 49ers seemed to push Purdy to throw the ball downfield more this season, commenting, "That's not what they do. That's not typically what they do."