Although Josh Allen unsuccessfully pulled on Superman’s cape, Lamar Jackson appeared as Clark Kent’s other quarterback in the AFC Championship Game against Superman.
Now, the 49ers will hoist the Lombardi Trophy, their first since the 1994 season and their sixth overall, continuing the proud legacy of Joe Montana and Steve Young and stopping Superman from hoisting the Lombardi Trophy. Brock Purdy is eager to do so. He won his third Lombardi Trophy and won back-to-back Super Bowl championships.
Brock Purdy vs. Patrick Mahomes.
Mr. Relevant vs. Superman.
Mahomes had already won his first Super Bowl when Brock Purdy was anointed Mr. Irrelevant. That’s because he was the 262nd and final pick in the 2022 draft out of Iowa State.
“Looking in from the outside I think it’s interesting and I’m going to accept the role and enjoy it for sure, but at the end of the day I want to help the team win the Super “Bowl,” Purdy said at the time. “That’s my way of thinking.”
All he’s done since then is replace Jimmy Garoppolo with Trey Lance (a player seen as the quarterback of the future for Kyle Shanahan and the 49ers), but he’s in the MVP conversation this season. On the other hand, it’s completely irrelevant.
Mahomes defeated the 49ers 31-20 in his first Super Bowl four years ago, transforming into Superman in the fourth quarter and overcoming a 20-10 deficit. Mahomes won his second ring against Jalen Hurts in Super Bowl LVII.
The only guy to beat him in the Super Bowl is Tom Brady.
Brock Purdy is no Tom Brady.
He’s not even Mr. Irrelevant. He’s gone.
Because he’s surrounded by a great play-calling head coach in Shanahan, the NFL’s best running back in Christian McCaffrey, and an outstanding left tackle in Trent Williams who carries weapons everywhere he goes. Long recognized as Mr. Irrelevant, oddsmakers in Las Vegas pegged Purdy as his two-point favorite over Mahomes in Super Bowl V.
Mr. Relevant doesn’t make your mouth gape or your jaw drop with no-look passes or off-platform magic like Superman. No, Mr. Lillevant commands the huddle, is an extension of the head coach, distributes the ball like a point guard, plays with his feet, and plays with an undersized, unheralded, and underrated quarterback. You will play with the chips you would expect. Every time I wake up the day he entered the NFL as Mr. Irrelevant.
“He’s a cold-blooded assassin,” NFL Network analyst Brian Baldinger said.
Mr. Relevant is knocked out by Eagles predator Haason Reddick in the first quarter of the NFC Championship Game, then returns to the game virtually unable to throw the ball and is able to face Superman in the Super Bowl. After a year, he said: On Sunday against the Lions, the 49ers got revenge after trailing 24-7 at halftime.
Mr. Lillevant was no game manager when the 49ers needed him to be a game-winner, going 13-for-16 for 174 yards and a second-half touchdown.
San Francisco LB Fred Warner said sarcastically after the game: oh. You made it through that game, kid. He’s going to give us a chance to win a ring. i love him. “
No one around the 49ers thinks the Super Bowl is too big for Mr. Lillevant. Those who don’t care will probably flinch. Mr. Relevant is not.
Of course, Mahomes is the face of the 28-year-old NFL and has arguably become the Michael Jordan of this sport, so it’s fair to call Mr. Lillevant “the other quarterback” for Super Bowl III. be.
First, Mahomes made $56.85 million this season. Purdy made $870,000 this season, making him the 64th highest-paid quarterback in the NFL.
Rich or not, “the other quarterback” isn’t the worst thing in the world. That’s because there are other “other quarterbacks” who made headlines in the Super Bowl.
- After five unsuccessful seasons with the Patriots, Jim Plunkett won Super Bowl XV MVP with the wild-card Raiders against Ron Jaworski and the Eagles.
- Plunkett did it again three years later against Joe Theisman.
- Phil Simms was the “other quarterback” who won Super Bowl MVP over John Elway for his heroics in Pasadena in Super Bowl XXI against the Broncos.
- Four years later, Jeff Hostetler defeated Jim Kelly and the Bills in Super Bowl XXV.
- Doug Williams was named Washington’s MVP in Super Bowl XXII against Elway.
- Mark Rypien was named MVP for Washington, who played against Kelly in Super Bowl XXVI.
- Brad Johnson won Super Bowl XXXVII as the Bucs, defeating Rich Gannon and the Raiders.
- Eli Manning was the “other quarterback” when he led the Giants to defeat Brady and the Perfect Patriots in Super Bowl 42, then beat Brady again four years later.
- No one could have imagined that Nick Foles would defeat Brady in Super Bowl II, giving the Eagles their first Super Bowl victory and their first NFL championship in 58 years. Called up by then-Eagles coach Doug Pederson to replace the injured Carson Wentz, Foles became the ultimate David to Goliath.
Mahomes had 26 hits for 49 for 270 yards and two INTs in a 31-9 loss to Brady and the Bucs three years ago. He has 738 yards, 5 TDs, 4 INTs and a 79.7 passer rating in three Super Bowls. He went 21-for-27 for 182 yards and three TDs last season, winning his second Super Bowl MVP award.
Mr. Lillevant is 0-0 in the Super Bowl.
Perhaps it’s just a game he imagined playing in his dreams.
That’s why some might call Brock Purdy vs. Patrick Mahomes David vs. Goliath. Not the 49ers. Not Brock Purdy.
he’s tough He’s strong-willed. he is fearless. he was hungry. he is resourceful. he is resilient. He’s instinctive. Superman has always been and still is.
He is now Mr. Relevant. Patrick Mahomes won’t scare him. And who knows if he’ll pack kryptonite for Superman.
