AJ Hawk compares 49ers' Brock Purdy's transformation to Michael Jordan
The 2011 Super Bowl winner AJ Hawk compared Brock Purdy’s recent development to Michael Jordan's early years in the NBA. The San Francisco 49ers QB recently gave an interview with CBS Sports from the training camp, and many were impressed by how Purdy’s arms looked more muscular compared to last season. Former footballers turned analysts Pat McAfee and AJ Hawk are in the same boat.
On the latest episode of ‘The Pat McAfee Show’ on ESPN, the duo looked at a picture of Brock Purdy from the interview. Former punter McAfee started the discussion by highlighting the significant progress Purdy has made during the offseason.
“Brock Purdy ate all the metal and iron that he possibly could this offseason,” McAfee said. There are pictures from last year to this year and he is just properly jacked, understanding that he wanted to get the upper body maybe the show muscles a little bit better.”
“This is the evolution of Brock Purdy, continues to build the body and the brain of a professional athlete and of an NFL quarterback.”
McAfee’s co-host AJ Hawk then compared Purdy to NBA legend Michael Jordan. Hawk said:
“I guess it's like Michael Jordan didn't get beat up a little bit early on the playoffs and he said 'Alright, I'm gonna go to the weight room and put on 20 pounds of muscle then we go and just win championships pretty much every year'”.
Hawk pointed out that Jordan was far leaner early in his career and was easily destabilized by the rough tactics of those days. However, MJ put on muscle mass to overcome that and Purdy is taking the same path as well.
Brock Purdy is not interested in money talk
Brock Purdy is set to become the lowest-paid starting QB for the third consecutive year. However, at the end of this season, he will have the opportunity to renegotiate his contract with the Niners, per the NFL rules. Despite a big payday looming, Purdy stated in a CBS interview that he isn’t focusing on that right now.
"To be caught up in the money and all that kind of stuff down the road, I’d be wrong if that’s where my mindset was at, and so it’s not.”
The Niners are slated to play their last game of the regular season in the first week of January 2025. After that game is done, irrespective of whether the Niners are through to the playoffs or not, Purdy will be eligible to negotiate a new contract.