by 
Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy could become the first rookie quarterback to start a Super Bowl. But first he has to get past the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday. Purdy becomes only the fifth rookie quarterback to start a conference championship game since 1970. The other four lost their start.
The other quarterbacks were Shaun King of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1999), Ben Roethlisberger of the Pittsburgh Steelers (2004), Joe Flacco of the Baltimore Ravens (2008) and Mark Sanchez of the New York Jets (2009). Three of those quarterbacks were first-round picks. King was a second-round pick.
Purdy’s rise since taking over the injured Jimmy Garoppolo in Week 13 caught the attention of the NFL world as the rookie quarterback was not a pick in the first or second rounds. He wasn’t third or fourth round either. Purdy was a seventh round pick. Not only that, he was the last overall pick – No. 262 – in last year’s draft.
Yet here he is. Purdy has beaten the odds and proven he belongs. The rookie quarterback has yet to lose a game in which he started or played the most snaps. He has played a major role in each of the 49ers’ last eight games—all won.
This week, Bleacher Report reminded fans that Purdy was the final overall pick in last year’s draft, noting, “Brock Purdy proved the doubters wrong from the start. I couldn’t write a better script for the rookie.” (h/t the spun)
A future Hall of Fame quarterback even responded to the post, sending a message to 23-year-old Purdy, who is about to make his third playoff start.
“Prove them wrong or prove them right!” Tom Brady replied in the comments.
Brady, of course, knows what it’s like to have doubters when entering the NFL. The quarterback was number 199 in the 2000 NFL Draft.
On Sunday, Purdy can make his way into the NFL history books.
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