Brady remembers facing Purdy in 49ers QB’s first career start originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Tom Brady remembers 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy’s first career start all too well.
Purdy and San Francisco hosted the future Pro Football Hall of Fame selection and his Tampa Bay Buccaneers during Week 14 of the 2022 NFL seasonand the 49ers earned a 35-7 victory at Levi’s Stadium.
In front of the 49ers game against the Arizona Cardinals On Sunday, Brady detailed his memories of Purdy’s big debut as a starter with FOX Sports co-host Kevin Burkhardt.
“Oh, man. Why do you have to talk about it? Brady told Kevin Burkhardt. “I was like, ‘You know what, this is his first start… Oh, my God. We can come in — and [former 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo] was hurt — We got this guy Purdy. Oh, we have a chance today, [facing] Mr. Unimportant.
“I’m sitting on the sidelines wondering, ‘How can Mr. Irrelevant cut us up?’ and “Is our defense that bad?” » And it turns out Brock is really good; he really is. Total control, just an awesome player who throws with anticipation. His team believes in him.
Tom Brady, who was the opposing QB in Brock Purdy’s first NFL start, talks about his impressions of Mr. Irrelevant, then and now. pic.twitter.com/23RjCLbevX
– The ComebackNFL (@TheComebackNFL) October 6, 2024
Purdy, who replaced Garoppolo in Week 13 that season after breaking his foot, finished the game 16-of-21 passing for 185 yards and two touchdowns. Brady is gone his region of origin 34 of 55 for 253 yards and a touchdown with two interceptions and, of course, the loss.
Since then, Purdy has thrived and established himself as San Francisco’s long-term signal caller. He led the 49ers to Super Bowl LVIII and is currently get by this season without star running back Christian McCaffrey.
Despite the 49ers’ frustrating loss to the Cardinals, Brady knows what Purdy is capable of and how far he’s come since being the 262nd and final overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.
