As strange is it may seem now, with Brock Purdy propelling the 49ers to within a game of the Super Bowl for the second consecutive season, but Tom Brady could have easily been playing quarterback for San Francisco this season.

A boyhood fan of Joe Montana and the strong 49ers teams of the 1980s, Brady was given the option of signing in San Francisco, where Purdy was recovering from surgery on his throwing elbow.

On one hand, the former Iowa State star and the last player picked in the 2024 NFL Draft understood the logic.

‘That meant so much to me,’ Purdy told ESPN. ‘I remember him saying, if we can get Tom Brady, we’re going to try to get him. And I was like, ”Yeah, he’s the GOAT. I get it.”

But while Purdy respects Brady – another late-round pick who defied low expectations by becoming a successful starting quarterback– the second-year 49er was still irked. After all, Purdy had outplayed the 45-year-old Brady in Tampa during the 49ers’ 2022 win over the Buccaneers before guiding San Francisco to the NFC Championship in the postseason.

Brock Purdy returned from elbow surgery to push the 49ers to the NFC title game yet again

Tom Brady could have started over Purdy (right) in San Francisco if he wanted to this season

‘… something deep down inside me was sort of like, ”Dude, I just showed you that I can play well in this system. And we were one game away from the Super Bowl,” Purdy added.

‘More than anything, I was like, ”OK, now let’s go.”

Of course, Brady stayed retired this time and refrained from returning to play for the 49ers, which allowed for Purdy to begin his dream season in Santa Clara.

Purdy and the 49ers squeaked passed the visiting Green Bay Packers, 24-21, on Saturday in Santa Clara, despite an up-and-down day from Purdy (23 of 39 for 252 yards and 1 TD).

Still, he was good when it mattered most, which as been a theme for the 12-5 49ers this season.

‘This year, being more familiar with the offense, who I am and all that, it’s a little different,’ he said Wednesday, before San Francisco advanced through the Divisional Round. ‘It’s good to sort of watch the games from last year and sort of remember the feeling and the emotions of playing in a playoff game. It’s good. It’s huge for me as a quarterback to go back to those moments and remember what it feels like.’

Purdy outplayed the 45-year-old Brady in Tampa during the 49ers’ 2022 win over the Bucs

The feeling last year was very good initially as Purdy threw for 332 yards and three TDs in a wild-card win against Seattle followed by an efficient, turnover-free performance the next week in a divisional round win over Dallas.

But things took a bad turn the following week in Philadelphia when Purdy got hit hard on his throwing arm by Haason Reddick on the opening drive of the game.

The hit led to a torn ligament in his elbow and essentially ended San Francisco’s hopes. Purdy was forced to return to the game in the second half after fourth-stringer Josh Johnson left with a concussion but was unable to throw the ball more than a few yards.

That led to a 31-7 loss for San Francisco, followed by offseason surgery for Purdy, months of rehabilitation and loads of questions about whether he would be hampered by the injury or if his first-year success was a fluke.

‘It’s been a pretty quick year,’ he said. ‘It feels like we were just in the playoffs, like we were just in Philly and all that. It’s gone fast.’

Purdy answered those doubters and now is ready for another playoff run that he hopes has a happier ending.

He became the first Niners quarterback in more than 20 years to throw for more than 4,000 yards (4,280) or at least 30 TDs (31). He led the NFL with a 113 passer rating and his 9.6 yards per attempt were the most in the NFL for a qualifying QB since Kurt Warner had 9.9 in 2000.

‘I think it’d be unfair to Brock Purdy and the way he’s played since he’s been there to say, ‘Oh, he’s just playing good because he’s got great players around him,’ ‘ Packers defensive coordinator Joe Barry said. ‘It helps to have great pieces but any offense that has success, you instantly have to look at the triggerman. … You talk about from an efficiency standpoint, ever since he’s taken control of that huddle since he got his first start, the efficiency’s incredible.’

Purdy wasn’t perfect Saturday against Green Bay, but was steady when the 49ers  needed him

Purdy had few slipups this season but one did come on a big stage late in the season when San Francisco took on Baltimore in a Christmas night showdown between the top two teams in the NFL.

Purdy admitted the intensity of that game got to him early, as he forced a pass into coverage in the end zone on the opening drive that led to an interception. He threw three more interceptions that game as the 49ers lost 33-19.

Purdy said he learned from that experience but the Packers believe they saw an opening to defensive success too.

‘Just got to get pressure on him, know what I’m saying,’ defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt said. ‘When he’s throwing that ball (with pressure), it’s just off rhythm. I watched it a lot on film. When D-linemen just get pressure into him, he’s always throwing off or it’s behind them or it’s overthrown or short. There will be a lot of picks or stuff like that. So when you get pressure on him, it’s a guarantee we’ll get a turnover.’