Two-time Super Bowl winner once named an underdog backs Brock Purdy to replicate his NFL success
Brock Purdy stepped into the role as the starting quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers once Jimmy Garoppolo went down in Week 13. The quarterback was the final pick in the 2022 NFL Draft aka Mr. Irrelevant. Now, he's under center and playing in the playoffs for the first time. The former Iowa State quarterback's story could be reminiscent of another backup signal-caller named Kurt Warner.
In an interview with the New York Post, Warner compared his journey to that of Purdy's.
Warner said:
“It’s been fun to watch Brock’s journey They overlooked me and they overlooked him to a certain degree because he was picked so late [No. 262 overall].’’
Warner is an Iowa native who played college football for Northern Iowa and was disregarded by the NFL. He then became a superstar for the Iowa Barnstormers in the Arena Football League (AFL) before finally forming his unlikely NFL career. That career led him to win Super Bowl 34 and Super Bowl MVP with the St. Louis Rams.
While the Hall of Famer thoroughly embracing Purdy’s journey, he urges fans to “sit back and let Purdy write his own story.’’
Kurt Warner said:
“Tom Brady when he won his first Super Bowl wasn’t the Tom Brady that we know now, the greatest of all time. He had a good team, he threw for 150 yards [145] in the [first] Super Bowl and one TD in the playoffs that year. He was able to become Tom Brady."
Warner added:
“We’ll know who Brock is four or five years from now. Right now, he doesn’t have to be the next Tom Brady, he doesn’t have to be the next Kurt Warner. Just go do your thing this year and embrace this moment."
Thus far, Brock Purdy is definitely embracing the moment as 49ers quarterback, including a phenomenal playoff debut.
Brock Purdy impresses in his first career start in the playoffs
The San Francisco 49ers faced the Seattle Seahawks in the Wild Card round of the playoffs. In the game, Purdy threw for 332 yards and three touchdowns in the 49ers' 41 - 23 victory over the Seahawks. He also ran one in for a touchdown via a quarterback sneak. In the victory, Brock Purdy made some NFL history.
The first rookie QB with 4 total TDs in a playoff game: @BrockPurdy13
(h/t @NFLResearch) https://t.co/owg3z4hy17
Brock Purdy became the lowest-drafted quarterback to start a playoff game. With the win over the Seahawks, he became the lowest-selected quarterback with a playoff win. We'll see if the San Francisco 49ers quarterback can keep the momentum going this postseason.
If you use any of the above quotes, please credit the New York Post and H/T Sportskeeda.