San Francisco 49ers Legend Joe Montana Defends Brock Purdy Against Critics: “We Don’t Need to Be Mahomes”

The ongoing debate surrounding Brock Purdy’s place among the NFL’s elite quarterbacks reached a boiling point this week, and just as it seemed to overshadow the San Francisco 49ers’ season, a legendary voice rose from the past to defend the team’s current star.

When former NFL wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh remarked on Speakeasy that “The regular season doesn’t turn anyone into Mahomes,” his criticism of Brock Purdy hit a nerve with fans and players alike. Houshmandzadeh, who had been a key part of the Bengals’ offense during their successful years, seemed to dismiss Purdy's accomplishments, suggesting that greatness in the regular season alone isn’t enough to compare with the likes of Patrick Mahomes.

However, the comments quickly backfired when none other than Joe Montana, the Hall of Fame quarterback and San Francisco 49ers legend, stepped into the fray. Montana, a man who led the 49ers to four Super Bowl championships in the 1980s, was not one to let such disparaging remarks slide — especially when they were aimed at someone who has come to represent the very soul of San Francisco.

Appearing on Good Morning Football, Montana spoke with raw emotion and deep conviction:
“I understand those criticisms. I was once in Brock’s position – hearing people say I was ‘good enough but not great enough.’ But if you live in San Francisco, you know Brock Purdy isn’t just a player, he’s the heart of this city. He doesn’t need to be Mahomes to become a legend. He just needs to be himself.”

In a single statement, Montana summed up the pride of 49ers fans, affirming that Purdy, though not in the same mold as Mahomes, has his own journey to greatness. The words were not just a defense of a quarterback, but a defense of a city that has long embraced a culture of resilience, loyalty, and passion — qualities that are often more significant than mere statistics.

The reaction was swift. 49ers fans, who have rallied around Purdy since he became the starter, took to social media in droves. The hashtag #InBrockWeTrust trended on X (formerly Twitter) as 49ers fans showed their unwavering support for their franchise quarterback, their voices echoing the sentiment that Purdy’s greatness doesn’t have to be measured by anyone else’s standards.

As Montana’s words spread across the internet, Brock Purdy, ever humble, addressed the situation with his trademark class. In his post-practice interview, when asked about Houshmandzadeh’s remarks, Purdy responded with a calm and confident demeanor:

In that brief but powerful response, Purdy solidified his role as not just a player, but a leader who understands the weight of his position in the city of San Francisco. The way he carried himself in the face of criticism was a testament to the type of man he is — one who plays for something much larger than personal accolades. His words were met with applause in the studio, and the host could only comment:

In many ways, this moment encapsulates the essence of what it means to be a San Francisco 49er. From Joe Montana’s days of leading the team to four Super Bowl victories to Purdy’s rise as the face of the franchise, the 49ers have always been about more than just victories on the field. In San Francisco, it’s about the grit, the loyalty, and the determination to prove that their place in the league isn’t defined by comparisons.

As the season rolls on, it’s clear that the 49ers are focused on carving out their own legacy, and Brock Purdy is the man at the helm, leading them with the spirit of a true San Francisco son. From Montana to Purdy, it’s evident that the 49ers are a team built on heart — and that’s something no one can measure with stats or comparisons. It’s their greatest asset, and it’s a legacy no one can replicate.

In San Francisco, it’s never been about being Mahomes. It’s about being the best version of themselves. And with Purdy at the wheel, the city of San Francisco believes this journey will lead to greatness — on their terms.

Oluwatimi was a ‘catalyst’ of Seahawks’ big run plays against Cardinals

Every great team will find a way to overcome obstacles, which include injuries. The Seattle Seahawks have won seven of their nine games played through ten weeks of the season because they’ve found ways to overcome the injuries that could’ve plagued their team.

Seattle has been hit hard since the start of the season in the secondary, mostly in their starters. Only safeties Coby Bryant and Ty Okada and backup cornerback Nehemiah Pritchett have played all nine games this season. Within the last few games, the receiver corps has also seen some injuries along with their key role players.

The Seahawks dominated the Cardinals at home in Week 10 with a 44-22 score by being solid through all three phases of the game. They weren't perfect, but the team found a way to overwhelm the Cardinals.

There were some hiccups against the Cardinals as they had one of their key players on offense go down. In the third quarter, Seahawks center Jalen Sundell went down with a knee injury and wasn't able to return. This forced Olusegun Oluwatimi to step up and take the first-string center duties.

His first play in the game didn't go well as his snap to quarterback Sam Darnold was mishandled, resulting in the first three turnovers for the Seahawks. Once Oluwatimi was able to slow down and take some more practice snaps, there were fewer concerns about his play.

As a matter of fact, Oluwatimi had one of the more positive performances for the Seahawks' offense, despite only playing in 33 plays. Pro Football Focus gave Oluwatimi an overall grade of 80.2, which is the fourth-highest of either team on the offensive side of the ball and the third-highest Seahawk.

On Monday, Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald talked about Oluwatimi's performance and how it helped propel the running game.

“Man, really excited for Olu. Talk about staying ready, and when his opportunity presented itself, he played some really good football for us. He’s really the catalyst behind a lot of those runs.”

When Sundell went down with the knee injury, the Seahawks started to focus more on the running game. Outside of fumble yards and quarterback kneels, the Seahawks rushed for approximately 173 yards with Kenneth Walker III, Zach Charbonnet, and George Holani.

The offensive line and the Seahawks' rushing offense, as a whole, played their best game of the season. Oluwatimi was a big reason to set the tone for the offensive line to carve efficient running lanes for the ball carriers.

Macdonald reiterated in the press conference on Monday, like he did after the postgame conference after the win over Arizona, that Sundell will miss some time with the possibility of going on IR.

All the Seahawks could do was adapt by getting Oluwatimi prepped and ready to be the Seahawks' starting center for some time. He will have a first tough start in Week 11 as the Seahawks go on the road to take on the Los Angeles Rams (7-2). Oluwatimi played well once he adjusted. He might be a surprise, like Okada has after moving up to a starter after an injury to a first-string player.

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