After a stellar debut as a starting quarterback, leading the San Francisco 49ers to the Super Bowl, and finishing fourth in MVP voting, Brock Purdy is setting higher expectations for 2024 and beyond. In an interview with Michael Silver of the San Francisco Chronicle, Purdy articulated his aim to emulate the dominance and energy of Tom Brady.
He aspires to be in command during crucial moments, especially in the latter parts of the game, ensuring his team’s leads are insurmountable.
Reflecting on the past season, Purdy acknowledged moments where he played it safe when the 49ers were ahead. This season, he is determined to maintain a dominant mindset throughout the entire game. He emphasized the importance of pushing through complacency and being aggressive and confident in maintaining and extending leads, rather than merely protecting them.
The mention of Tom Brady in Purdy’s remarks may have been unintentional, but it is noteworthy considering a report by ESPN’s Nick Wagoner. Purdy’s head coach, Kyle Shanahan, had told him that he would be the team’s starting quarterback unless they could acquire Brady.
With Brady’s retirement, Purdy became the undisputed starter, showing remarkable performance by leading the 49ers to a 5-0 finish in the 2022 season before suffering an injury in the NFC Championship Game.
Despite concerns about his recovery and ability to sustain his rookie season success, Purdy surpassed expectations in 2023. He set a franchise record with 4,280 passing yards and led the NFL with a 72.8 QBR. Additionally, he became the first 49ers quarterback since 2001 to throw for over 30 touchdowns in a season.
This impressive performance helped San Francisco secure the top seed in the NFC playoffs with a 12-5 record, and he guided the team to the Super Bowl with comeback victories against the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions.
Looking ahead to the upcoming season, the 49ers will retain all 11 offensive starters from 2023, a unit that was the most efficient and ranked third in the NFL in points per game. With Purdy aiming to improve his game even more, the team is optimistic about finally ending their quest for a sixth Super Bowl title.
