San Francisco 49ers owner Jed York shared with the media on Thursday when head coach Kyle Shanahan told him that Brock Purdy was the team’s best quarterback.
Purdy became the 2022 version of Mr. Irrelevant when the 49ers selected him with the 262nd and last pick in the NFL Draft. Nevertheless, over the last two seasons, San Francisco has won 21 of the 26 games that Purdy has started. His only playoff loss came against the Philadelphia Eagles last year in the NFC Championship Game when he got injured.
This season, Purdy was named the NFC starter for the Pro Bowl, but he and the 49ers will instead face Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl.
When Kyle Shanahan Knew Brock Purdy Was the Guy
York said that Shanahan told him during training camp “I think our third-string quarterback is our best quarterback.” Purdy was behind Trey Lance and Jimmy Garoppolo on the depth chart.
Shanahan told York, “Obviously we invested in Trey. Trey’s doing a good job. We’re going to do everything we can. We’re not going to change that. We’re not going to change the depth chart, but I think Brock will end up being our quarterback at some point.”
San Francisco made huge investments in the first two QBs on the depth chart. Lance was selected by the team with the third overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, and Garoppolo was in the final season of a five-year, $137.5 million contract.
York said, “One thing that owners don’t love to hear when they have invested money and/or draft picks or both in two people is that the last pick in the draft is the guy that we think is best. That’s not generally great news.”
Last season, Lance was the starting QB in Week 1 but suffered a season-ending ankle injury a week later. Garoppolo then became the starter until he injured his ankle in Week 13, opening the door for Purdy.
Purdy completed four of nine passes at the end of a Week 7 game against the Chiefs. York said, “He had some mop-up time. I think Brock threw one ball in the stands. I may or may not have had some sarcastic comments for Kyle postgame.”
York added, “When Brock took over last year, we had a calm about us, but there was a sense that nothing catches you by surprise.”
Ahead of the 2023 season, Lance was traded to the Dallas Cowboys after Sam Darnold beat him out to be Purdy’s backup in training camp. Garoppolo, meanwhile, signed with the Las Vegas Raiders but was benched after Week 8.
Shanahan’s Communication With York
York talked about how much he likes his communication with Shanahan, who is in his seventh season as San Francisco’s head coach. “You might not love everything Kyle tells you, but he’s always open and honest, especially in the moment,” York said.
He added, “He’s very clear with that with me. He’s like, ‘Look, I will tell you exactly what I think of a player, a situation, a coach in the moment, but that might (not) be how I feel three weeks from now.'”
MORE: Draymond Green Defends Brock Purdy From Media ‘Slander’
Shanahan has led the 49ers to the playoffs four times in seven seasons. This is his second Super Bowl appearance.
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