San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan is finally confirming the rumors about Tom Brady.
A few weeks ago, 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy revealed in an ESPN article that the team tried to convince Brady to join San Francisco as the team’s starting signal-caller for 2023.
Now, Shanahan is corroborating the story.
“Yes, I was serious about it,” Shanahan told Peter King of NBC Sports. “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 did not elaborate on why the Niners ultimately did not sign Brady, but he says he was trying to protect Purdy by trying to keep him healthy.
“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?’”
Of course, Shanahan has to try and spin this into a positive for Purdy given that, you know, Purdy is about to take snaps for the 49ers in the Super Bowl next weekend.
The last thing Shanahan wants to do is say that he had limited faith in Purdy, which was why he then reached out to Tom Brady to try and bring him aboard.
“I mean, if Brock never got hurt, this wouldn’t have been a consideration at all. I’d never have brought it up,” Shanahan continued. “But I’ve got to think about the team. What if he’s not ready in September?”
Whether or not Kyle Shanahan is actually telling the truth here is anyone’s guess, but things have worked out pretty well for San Francisco this season.
Purdy played like an MVP candidate during the year, and now, he has the opportunity to lead the Niners to a championship.
The 49ers will battle the Kansas City Chiefs for all the marbles on Sunday.
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