Kyle Shanahan ‘Was Serious’ About Bringing Tom Brady To San Francisco For 2023

San Fransisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan told quarterback Brock Purdy that the team would pursue Tom Brady as a year-long replacement while Purdy healed from an elbow injury sustained in last year’s NFC Championship game.

The 49ers have cycled through multiple quarterbacks in the form of Jimmy Garropolo and Trey Lance in recent years along with Purdy, but signing the seven-time Super Bowl winner would be one of the biggest moves in recent NFL history.

“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?'”

Brady retired from football for the second time with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in February of 2023 following an 8-9 season and a first-round loss to the Dallas Cowboys, one year after his initial retirement announcement. Just like in 2023, the 49ers also expressed interest in Brady when he left the Patriots in 2020. Brady reportedly told his hometown team that he would be interested in returning for one final year.

Brady, obviously, never accepted the offer, but the 49ers didn’t end up having issues at quarterback this season. The team signed Sam Darnold as a backup, but Purdy started all but one game this year, finishing with 4,280 yards and 31 touchdowns with the league’s highest passer rating. Purdy, who was the last pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, has fans divided on whether the team’s success is coming from his skill or the other All-Pro players around him like Christian McCaffrey, Deebo Samuel and Trent Williams.

“John [Lynch] and I, we took Purdy — and thank God we did,” Shanahan said, recalling the 2022 Draft and whether they thought they could pick up Purdy as a free agent. “I’m also getting the feeling we’re not getting Purdy as a free agent because there are so many other teams who are going to try to sign him… I said in the room, ‘Let’s not risk it. This guy’s too good.'”

A win for Purdy would no doubt cement him as the 49ers starting quarterback for the next few years. But while he and the 49ers prepare for their matchup against the Chiefs in the Super Bowl, Brady looks to continue other business ventures outside of playing football. The 46-year-old is still yet to begin his ten-year $375 million contract with Fox to be the network’s leading color analyst for NFL games.