Last month, Brock Purdy casually revealed some pretty shocking news in an on-the-record interview when he said that San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan was trying to get seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady to become the team’s starting quarterback. And Shanahan confirmed that news this week.
During an interview with Peter King for his Football Morning In America column, Kyle Shanahan confirmed that he was indeed serious about bringing in Tom Brady during the offseason, explaining that the thought began after Brock Purdy’s injury.
“Yes, I was serious about it,” Shanahan said. “As we talked, 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. That started all of this.”
Shanahan said that it would have been “cool” for Purdy to get a chance to learn behind Brady for one season.
“I actually thought it was giving Brock the biggest compliment,” Shanahan said. “I let him know he’s our guy long-term. No question. And 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. That’s pretty cool. I wanted to assure him, ‘Don’t worry. You’re our guy. But how cool would it be if Tom Brady would be the quarterback here for one season? How cool would it be for you to learn from him?’
“I mean, if Brock never got hurt, this wouldn’t have been a consideration at all. I’d never have brought it up. But I’ve got to think about the team. What if he’s not ready in September?”
Ultimately, it didn’t happen. But it’s pretty shocking that it could have.
