Brock Purdy discussed the challenges of preparing for Super Bowl LVIII and reflected on the moment he knew he earned the trust of his 49ers teammates.
In an alternate universe, 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy might not be preparing for Super Bowl LVIII right now.”Mr.
Irrelevant” of the 2022 NFL Draft took the 49ers to the big stage in his first full season as a starter, but things could have turned out differently. Former Carolina Panthers coach Matt Rhule revealed Wednesday that he wanted the team to draft Purdy, but was “vetoed.”
“I think Brock Purdy is a great player,” Rhule said during a news conference as Nebraska’s head coach. “…When I was in the art room in Carolina, I mentioned his name. I said, “Hey guys, he should be on the draft board.” I have a veto on this.”
Rhule was Baylor’s head coach from 2017-19 and crossed paths with Purdy while the quarterback was at Iowa State. Baylor defeated Purdy’s Cyclones 23-21 in 2019 to move to 4-0, while Iowa State fell to 2-2.
Purdy completed 27 of 42 passes for 342 yards, two touchdowns and a pick.The Panthers hired Rhule in 2020 and selected a quarterback in the 2022 draft:
Ole Miss’ Matt Corral in the third round.Corral was one of six players selected in Carolina’s 2022 class, but suffered a Lisfranc injury in the preseason and never recorded an official fracture. He last appeared with the New England Patriots in 2023.Rhule’s ties to Purdy and the 49ers don’t end there.
After San Francisco won 37-15 at Carolina during the 2022 season, the Panthers fired Rhule during Carolina’s 1-4 start. Steve Wilks, the current 49ers defensive coordinator, was named interim coach of the Panthers at the time.
Now Purdy and Wilks are on the same team hoping to bring their sixth Vince Lombardi Trophy back to the Bay.
