Getty Image / Chris Graythen
This offseason, the San Francisco 49ers have one of the NFL’s most interesting quarterback situations.
They have Brock Purdy seemingly locked in to be their starter after stunning the league with an impressive rookie season.
However, he is working his way back from elbow surgery, which makes the team’s backup QB spot pretty important as they wait to see if Purdy will be ready to go Week 1.
Right now, the team’s two options for that spot are Sam Darnold, who they signed this offseason, or Trey Lance, who they drafted 3rd overall two years ago.
Kyle Shanahan may have given a pretty big hint about who he thinks should have that job.
While speaking to The San Francisco Chronicle’s Michael Silver, Shanahan asked why Sam Darnold can’t be Steve Young.
The 49ers have new QB controversies. Brock Purdy may be good to go, but if he has a setback, Sam Darnold vs. Trey Lance will matter and Kyle Shanahan says he might keep four QBs. From @MikeSilver https://t.co/8wsKrHYyDq
— Sporting Green (@SportingGreenSF) July 27, 2023
“I mean, Steve Young took a while to get going, and he’s one of the best quarterbacks of all time,” Shanahan said. “I don’t like to compare anyone to Steve, cause of how good he is, but why can’t Sam be like that? He’s got that type of ability. He is that type of person. And I’m just pumped that we could get a talented guy like him here.”
Like Darnold, Steve Young did have a pretty brutal first couple of years in the NFL.
He started his career with a 3-16 record for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers while throwing 11 touchdowns with 21 interceptions.
He spent the next 4 years backing up Joe Montana before he got another opportunity to be an NFL starter.
Darnold’s first couple of years actually weren’t as bad as Young’s as he threw more touchdowns than interceptions and actually had a winning record in his second season.
Things fell apart in year 3 and didn’t get any better in year 4 after he was traded to the Panthers.
He showed signs that he was improving last season, but didn’t exactly look like a future Hall of Famer.
Maybe putting one of football’s most loaded offenses around him would change that, but he’d need to usurp Brock Purdy to get the chance to show it.
For right now, it looks like Sam Darnold is going to be the backup QB for the San Francisco 49ers, but Kyle Shanahan believes he can be a lot more than that.