On Tuesday, Tom Brady joined ESPN's "Pat McAfee Show" and shared his thoughts on the San Francisco 49ers' second-year quarterback. Brock Purdy has the Bay Area team headed to the Super Bowl for the first time since the 2019 season and is a finalist for the NFL's coveted MVP award.
Purdy played a pivotal role in the 49ers' two comeback wins in the playoffs, including erasing Sunday's 17-point deficit against the Detroit Lions in the NFC Championship Game.
"I think Brock's done a great job with the opportunity," Brady told McAfee. "He got it, and he's taken advantage of it. He was a late-round pick. I know he's got a chip on his shoulder, and he wants to go out there and prove every day that he's the right fit for that team."
"Again, it's a great organization they're running. I really respect [head coach] Kyle [Shanahan], but Brock's done a hell of a job."
Being the last overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft may not be the sole reason Purdy has a chip on his shoulder. The quarterback recently told ESPN's Nick Wagoner that his starting job this season wasn't 100 percent guaranteed. It hinged on Brady and whether the 49ers could coax the future Hall of Fame quarterback out of retirement. After all, it's well-established that Brady grew up a fan of the team.
"I remember him (Shanahan) saying, 'If we can get Tom Brady, we're going to try to get him,'" Purdy said. "And I was like, 'Yeah, he's the GOAT. I get it.'"
But deep down, Purdy admitted that he felt he deserved the job after nearly getting the 49ers to the Super Bowl as a rookie.
Asked about his thoughts on teams like the 49ers continually inquiring about his desire to return to football, Brady said, "In this last season, there's a lot of different things that people would suggest, but I kind of just kept my mind focused on where I wanted to go. Again, this was a great year for me to sit back and watch and learn and get prepared for being in the FOX booth next year."
"Brock Purdy has done a great job and I know he's got a chip on his shoulder..
I have so much respect for the 49ers organization and Kyle Shanahan" @TomBrady #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/jn4HaCuK0c
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) January 30, 2024
