49ers HC Kyle Shanahan breaks silence on him being ready to bench Brock Purdy for Tom Brady in the offseason

Shanahan revealed that even if the 49ers had added Brady, Purdy would still be their guy.

49ers HC Kyle Shanahan breaks silence on him being ready to bench Brock Purdy for Tom Brady in the offseason

(L) Brock Purdy, (R) Tom Brady and (M) Kyle Shanahan (Image via IMAGO)

Kyle Shanahan freaked Brock Purdy out before the start of the last season. The San Francisco 49ers head coach told his quarterback that the front office was seriously considering talking to Tom Brady to take over the QB job for the 2023 season.

Keep in mind that just before the conversation, Purdy had suffered a bad injury to his throwing hand in the NFC Championship game. Not only him, but the two other quarterbacks in the locker room, Jimmy Garoppolo and Trey Lance, were both injured. So the 49ers had no serviceable QB in their arsenal.

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Now, in 2024, they are preparing for the Super Bowl. Shanahan spoke to Peter King of NBC Sports and revealed that the 49ers really considered adding the retired Tom Brady.

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I'm looking at Brock, and he’s got his arm in a sling, and I really am not sure I’ve got a quarterback who’s going to be ready for the start of the 2023 season.
Shanahan told King

The 49ers had reached the championship game because of Brock Purdy, who played nothing synonymous with his ‘Mr. Irrelevant’ title. As a result, Shanahan knew that they had found their franchise guy. But he was in no shape to start the season, so they had to take drastic measures.

I actually thought it was giving Brock the biggest compliment. I let him know he’s our guy long-term.

49ers owner Jed York a few days ago revealed that Shanahan knew their ‘third string QB’ aka Brock Purdy was their best quarterback. Barring anything out of the ordinary happened, he would be their QB for the future.

If Tom Brady wanted to come here and start for one year, that’s the only way you’re not starting when you’re healthy this year. I wanted to assure him, ‘Don’t worry. You’re our guy.'
York said

Tom Brady was a backup for Kyle Shanahan if Brock Purdy failed to recover in time

Relying on the 262 pick was a risk, to begin with, but it paid dividends when he did not lose a single game in the regular season and only lost the final game due to injury. Shanahan wouldn’t have discussed it with Purdy if he were healthy. Brady was the backup plan for the 49ers on the off chance the 24-year-old did not meet the timeline to be named on the 53-man roster.

49ers HC Kyle Shanahan breaks silence on him being ready to bench Brock Purdy for Tom Brady in the offseason
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (13) holds the George Halas Trophy after winning the NFC Championship football game against the Detroit Lions at Levi’s Stadium. Santa Clara Levi’s Stadium California (Image via IMAGO)

The seven-time Super Bowl winner put an end to his illustrious career by playing his final game as a Buccaneer. On his 46th birthday, Brady teased through an Instagram post that he was very close to coming out of retirement for the second time.

Shanahan had thought about an alternative because he had no quarterback to name in the starting lineup after trading Lance to the Cowboys. He was only thinking about the team.

I’d never have brought it up. But I’ve got to think about the team.
Shanahan said

Fortunately, the Iowa weather made all the difference, and Purdy met the deadline. He led the 49ers to a 12-5 season, bagging the #1 seed and winning the NFC title. Now they will face the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVIII at Allegiant Stadium on February 11.

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