Right now, the San Francisco 49ers are clearly the best team in the NFL, and they’re being led by quarterback Brock Purdy, who has become the league’s newest Cinderella story.
Purdy, the last player chosen in the 2022 draft, is leading the league in touchdown passes, passer rating, and QBR, and he’s second in passing yards and pass completion percentage.
As a result, he is currently the favorite to win the regular-season MVP award.
One of the reasons Purdy has been succeeding at such a high level is his poise, and it led legendary 49ers wide receiver Jerry Rice to compare him to Joe Montana, per Ari Meirov.
#49ers legend Jerry Rice on Brock Purdy…
“Brock reminds me a lot of Joe Montana. His coolness. He doesn’t get rattled.”
[Full episode of @TheWarnerHouse_ with the 🐐:https://t.co/3q4pw1K4nm] pic.twitter.com/NpBlsWQu1x
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) December 19, 2023
Before Tom Brady won his first few Super Bowl championships, Montana was almost universally considered the greatest quarterback ever and arguably the best player ever.
In the 1980s, he led the 49ers to four Super Bowl championships and turned them into one of pro football’s iconic franchises, and his coolness under pressure became legendary.
Purdy has shown his coolness by not only making quick and accurate reads but also responding well to blitzes by either getting rid of the football or wheeling out of the pocket or away from pressure.
The Niners are 11-3 and in sole possession of first place in the NFC, and they will have a big showdown on Christmas Day at home versus the Baltimore Ravens in what could be a Super Bowl preview.
The Ravens are also 11-3, giving them the best record in the AFC, and like San Francisco, they own one of the league’s most savage defenses.
Yet another strong performance on Christmas Day could seal the MVP award for Purdy and bring him one step closer to truly following in the path of Montana, who won two such awards.
NEXT:
Analyst Explains What Makes Brock Purdy So Valuable
