San Francisco 49ers great Brent Jones recently expressed a striking comparison between current quarterback Brock Purdy and Hall of Famer Joe Montana, despite Purdy entering only his fourth NFL season. This Brock Purdy Joe Montana comparison gains credibility coming from Jones, a respected figure in 49ers history. Purdy established himself as the team’s cornerstone when he signed a five-year, $265 million contract extension this offseason.
Although Purdy lacks the prototypical arm strength and mobility expected of elite quarterbacks, he has quickly achieved significant success. In just two seasons as a starter, he has led the 49ers to consecutive NFC Championship Games and a Super Bowl appearance.
Jones Highlights Montana’s Exceptional Decision-Making Ability
Jones detailed what made Montana one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history, emphasizing his quick mental processing and anticipation. According to Jones, Montana had an unparalleled ability to read defenses and decide on his target, often making instantaneous decisions beyond the primary reads in a play.
Joe Montana was, in my mind, the greatest processor that I’ve ever seen,
Jones told Guy Haberman in an interview.
He knew where he was going to go with the ball. And it could be the fifth read on a play, but he knew instantaneously that it was going to that guy just because of the way the defense ended up moving or checking or bouncing. He’d read it immediately, no matter what, and he knew where he was going with the ball a majority of the time.
Jones further explained Montana’s unique qualities:
“You don’t have to have the strongest arm in the NFL. Purdy’s arm is plenty strong, but Joe wasn’t John Elway or Jim Kelly or Dan Marino, but he’s the one with all the…” —Brent Jones, 49ers Legend
Parallels in Purdy’s Rapid Processing and Accuracy
Jones noted that Brock Purdy exhibits the same rapid processing skills that made Montana special. Early in Purdy’s career, Jones observed his ability to quickly read defenses, deliver the ball efficiently, and consistently hit the open receiver with accuracy.
What I started to see early on in Brock’s career was, man, he processes fast, and gets rid of the ball, and is accurate, and a lot of times, hits the open man,
Jones shared.
And I think it’s been fantastic to watch him.
Challenges Purdy Faced During a Difficult 2024 Season
Jones acknowledged that Purdy encountered increased pressure last season due to injuries across the 49ers’ offense. With key players sidelined, Purdy had limited options, forcing him to take more risks under duress.
And so, he was going for it,
Jones explained.
And we had a band of injuries at receiver. We had different guys in there. We had new guys. And sometimes … the interception is 100% on the receiver, but Brock Purdy is never going to be the guy where you think that it was the receiver, because he’s never going to point or pout or throw his arms up in the air or do things that other quarterbacks do sometimes to make sure everybody knows it’s not on them. And so, he’s that kind of a teammate.
Despite the team’s struggles, finishing the season with a 6-11 record, Jones maintained his admiration for Purdy’s tenacity and leadership.
Anticipation and Accuracy Set Montana and Purdy Apart
Jones underscored how Joe Montana’s hallmark traits were anticipation and precision, which compensated for his lack of the strongest arm compared to contemporaries like John Elway and Dan Marino. He sees similar qualities developing in Brock Purdy.
You don’t have to have the strongest arm in the NFL, and his arm is plenty strong,
Jones said.
But Joe wasn’t [John] Elway or Jim Kelly or Dan Marino [when it came to arm strength], but he’s the one with all the Super Bowl rings. And it’s because his anticipation and his accuracy and his ability to read the defenses were unlike anybody that I’ve ever seen.
And so, I think Brock has a lot of those characteristics, and I’m excited to see him with a full group of healthy players—and especially … everything changes with [Christian] McCaffrey back as your running back, not only running the ball, but coming out of the backfield. To have him not there [last season] was a big miss, too, for Brock.
Outlook for Purdy’s Future with the 49ers
Jones expressed optimism about Purdy’s prospects as the team returns to full health, particularly with the addition of Christian McCaffrey, who enhances the offense both as a rusher and a receiver out of the backfield. This renewed support system could elevate Purdy’s performance further in upcoming seasons, potentially solidifying his position as a franchise quarterback much like Joe Montana before him.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. What is Brock Purdy’s salary?
A. The new contract places Purdy among the top earners in the league. He will make about $53 million yearly, similar to Jared Goff and Tua Tagovailoa. Very few NFL quarterbacks make more per year than he does. Purdy’s contract also promises him $181 million guaranteed.
Q. What happened with Brock Purdy and Taylor Swift?
A. To be clear, the 35-year-old superstar did not mean there was any conflict with the 49ers’ Purdy. She was just talking about the stress of watching last February’s Super Bowl. During that game, the Kansas City Chiefs, featuring her boyfriend Travis Kelce, won the Lombardi Trophy for the third time by beating the 49ers.
Q. What is the salary for Brock Purdy?
A. Purdy’s yearly pay of $53 million is an increase of over $52 million compared to his initial 4-year, $3.7 million rookie deal. This contract was signed when he was the final pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.
Q. Did Taylor Swift write a song about Brock Purdy?
A. During a visit to Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, a young fan asked if the song “Paper Rings” was about the 49ers quarterback. Surprisingly, Taylor Swift did not outright deny this. “I don’t dislike Brock Purdy,” Swift mentioned. “He really challenged me last February.”