San Francisco 49ers legend Joe Montana was among the celebrities in attendance at the American Century Championship golf tournament in Lake Tahoe this past week. The Hall of Fame quarterback took time to speak with Cam Inman of Bay Area News Group, offering his thoughts on the 49ers' new franchise quarterback, Brock Purdy, and his recent mega-deal.
Purdy signed a five-year, $265 million contract extension this offseason—the largest in franchise history—making him one of the highest-paid players in the NFL. Naturally, the massive payday has reignited debate about whether Purdy is truly deserving of such elite compensation. Critics continue to argue that the young quarterback is more a product of Kyle Shanahan's quarterback-friendly system and the star-studded roster around him than a top-tier talent in his own right.
But for Montana, the decision was a no-brainer.
"Yeah, well, they have to. I mean, it's not like he hasn't done the job," Montana told Inman. "He's been fairly consistent. He had a lot of injuries. Those are all tough to deal with."
Despite a disappointing 2024 result, Purdy has enjoyed significant success in his first three NFL seasons, leading the 49ers to back-to-back NFC Championship Games and a Super Bowl appearance in his first two years.
"He plays within himself," Montana added. "Usually, you see in the second year — which he didn't really do much — is try so much to be better and, 'Oh, I can do this now.' You see a lot of that from the first-year wonders, and you think, what are they going to do next year, and they think they can do everything.
"He played within himself and did what he's supposed to."
Montana, a four-time Super Bowl champion, three-time Super Bowl MVP, and two-time NFL MVP, understands the ups and downs of professional football. Reflecting on the 49ers' 6-11 finish in 2024—a season marred by injuries and setbacks—Montana acknowledged that the upcoming season could be a defining moment for Purdy.
"You can look over anybody's teams, even our years, it didn't matter. We all had ups and downs," Montana said. "It's just about coming back from where they are."
Purdy and the 49ers' veterans are set to report to training camp on July 22. That's when the real work begins. With a revamped roster and renewed expectations, San Francisco will rely heavily on its now well-compensated quarterback to lead the team back to playoff contention in 2025.
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