A few months ago, numerous rumors swirled around the idea that the San Francisco 49ers were interested in bringing Tom Brady out of retirement. At the time, Niners starting quarterback Brock Purdy was recovering from surgery to repair an elbow injury.
Purdy, the last pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, tore the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in his right elbow in the first quarter of the NFC Championship Game loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. Reports then surfaced that Niners coach Kyle Shanahan told Purdy that the team plans to pursue Brady in the 2023 season.
Purdy recently spoke about his interactions with his head coach. “I remember him (Shanahan) saying, ‘If we can get Tom Brady, we’re going to try to get him,’ and I thought, ‘Oh, he’s the best.’ Understood. ‘”
Then, during a recent appearance on the podcast “The Eye Test for Two,” 49ers general manager John Lynch addressed the speculation surrounding Brady while Purdy recovers.
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October 16, 2022. Atlanta, Georgia, USA. San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch is on the field before a game against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. (Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports)
“So when it first happened, we were really exploring, ‘What are we going to do as a quarterback? We don’t know if we’re going to bring Brock back,'” Lynch said. . “tray [Lance] was also injured.he’s kind of [suffered] He had a serious ankle injury and wasn’t looking very well. Therefore, all options had to be considered. ”
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Lynch then suggested that Brady would have handled starting QB duties this season if he had remained on the 49ers’ roster.
“And I think Kyle and Brock have had a really honest conversation. At one point he said, ‘Look, the only way you can’t be a starter if you’re healthy is by getting a player like Brady.’ I think that’s what actually happened, but if you mention something like that, it’s obviously going to be a big topic.”
Brock Purdy #13 of the San Francisco 49ers speaks with Tom Brady #12 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after a game at Levi’s Stadium on December 11, 2022 in Santa Clara, California. San Francisco defeated Tampa Bay 35-7. (Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)
Coach Lynch made it clear that the organization has always maintained a level of confidence in Purdy and will consider other options as the former Iowa State football star prepares to return from a serious injury. It was just an attempt to bring some certainty to the quarterback position in an effort to bring more certainty to the quarterback position.
“I think it was more of an expression of trust in him, ‘Hey, you took us there.’ [far] In your rookie year. We believe you are one of us. As you recover, understand that you may need to secure other options. “I think then we started tracking his progress, and he was breaking all timelines during that time, a credit to his healing abilities and the genes he was blessed with,” Lynch explained. “But perhaps more important is the work ethic and energy. He beat all timelines by starting his rehab and was able to be ready right away when the season starts.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady, 12, runs onto the field before an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, Dec. 11, 2022 in Santa Clara, California. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobson)
Despite all the talk about Brady possibly taking the position, Purdy helped lift the Niners to the NFC title this season. He finished the regular season with 4,280 passing yards, 31 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions.
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Purdy will aim to further silence doubters when the 49ers take on the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl III in Las Vegas.
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