San Francisco 49ers legend Joe Montana doesn't like comparing players. That means he isn't trying to find a comparison for current starting quarterback Brock Purdy, who has enjoyed an impressive career since becoming the final pick of the 2022 NFL Draft.
However, there is one trait that many believe the two share.
Don't let Purdy's draft status fool you. Montana believes the 49ers quarterback has already proven himself to be a great player.
During an interview with Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area, Montana was asked what specifically impresses him about Purdy.
"He doesn't buckle under pressure," Montana said with authority. "His demeanor never changes whether it's—yeah, is he happy when he scores? Yeah, everybody is. But his basic personality doesn't change, and so I think that's the thing that you look for in a leader, because everybody's going to make mistakes. It's how you play after that, and he does a good job of not letting those things—when he does [make mistakes]—he comes back from it quickly."
That's a trait many would agree Montana displayed throughout his playing career. The Hall of Fame quarterback was known for remaining calm under pressure, earning the nickname "Joe Cool," and he has four Super Bowl championships to show for it.
"I tried to always be, like I said about Brock, be yourself, whether you're winning or losing," Montana said. "You're a leader on that team, and when your demeanor changes, so does the team's. When they think you're worried, then all of a sudden they're worried.
"But for the most part, you just have to try to keep things in line and deal with it as it comes. I wanted the ball. And as I always say, the reason we were behind was probably my fault anyway, so let me try to fix it."
As for his former team's chances during the upcoming season, Montana, like many others, believes the 49ers' success hinges on one key factor: staying healthy.
"If they stay healthy, I think you'll see pretty good things," Montana said. "One day, I picked up the paper and all of a sudden I saw 20 guys didn't practice. It's like, 'God, what's going on?' They just need to find a way to stay healthy, and I think they'll be fine."
Comments