Joe Montana: If Brock Purdy is healthy I think it’s his job, Trey Lance isn’t ready

NFC Championship - San Francisco 49ers v Philadelphia Eagles
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The quarterback who won four Super Bowls with the 49ers has had no hesitation about speaking his mind on the 49ers’ current quarterback situation, and he doesn’t think Trey Lance is ready to lead a team to a Super Bowl.

Joe Montana appeared today on PFT Live and said that his previous comments about the 49ers bringing back Jimmy Garoppolo were only about what the team should do if Brock Purdy‘s elbow injury hasn’t healed. If Purdy can go, Montana believes Purdy is the starter for 2023.

“If Purdy’s healthy I think it’s his job,” Montana said.

But what about Lance, whom the 49ers spent three first-round picks on? Montana doesn’t believe he’ll be ready to lead a team to a Super Bowl, given how little he has shown through two NFL seasons.

“I don’t think he’s ready yet. I don’t think he’s ready to take that caliber team. Talented kid, and he might be, part way through the year if he gets more starts I don’t know, but do you want to turn over a team that you want to get off to a great start with a guy you still have a question about?” Montana said.

Montana, who’s still frustrated that the 49ers chose to trade him to the Chiefs and elevate Steve Young to the starting job, thinks the 49ers have to get the quarterback decision right this year, and he thinks the right choice is a healthy Purdy.

38 responses to “Joe Montana: If Brock Purdy is healthy I think it’s his job, Trey Lance isn’t ready

  1. Agree. If brock is 100% at the start of training camp as is being predicted he should be QB1 on the depth chart.

  2. Joe Montana is the definition of laid back. When he speaks, it’s worth paying attention. If he says Purdy is the man, then it’s gotta be Purdy (no pun intended)

  3. Kyle Shanahan’s bungling of the quarterback position is a major stain on an otherwise great headcoaching job, and if it continues for another season or two, may well cost him his job, especially if their Superbowl window closes before they get a legit starting QB.

  4. I was excited to see what Lance could do at the beginning of the year, but since he got hurt and Purdy stepped in, after Jimmy G got hurt, you could see Purdy had command of the offense in a cool, calm and collective manner. To me its let them compete and if its close you have to go with Purdy because he has the game experience. Sad thing is if Lance does not get the job no one knows when he will play. Jordan Love 2.0

  5. But they gave up 3 first round picks for him!
    Carthon is the GM in Tennessee ship him to Titans and keep Jimmy!

  6. Joe always said that he enjoyed his time in Kansas City more than all the winning in San Francisco.

  7. Trey Lance has started around 20 games in his football career. That’s total, pro and college. Compare that to Brock Purdy who has been a starter for over 50, college and pro.
    Montana is right that Purdy should start if healthy, but it’s way too soon to give up on Lance.
    The biggest mistake the 49ers made was to invest so many picks on a quarterback who was more of a project than a top five selection.

  8. I could see Jimmy G getting a shot again somewhere. If he doesn’t then maybe he’s back to the Patriots on a back up salary.

  9. There is more game in a plastic wrapped set of Lance crackers than that clown in a Halloween QB costume.

  10. Reminds me of a classic quarterback bungle after Montana left . You had Bono get injured in the beginning of the year which lead to Gannon coming in to lead the chiefs to a first round bye – by the time the playoff game rolled around who did Marty go with ? Future mvp Gannon? It’s a no brainer right ? Wrong . Marty chose Bono who had done nothing all year over Gannon who had hustled to get the team where it needed to be . The chiefs lost , Gannon went to the raiders and led them to the super bowl .
    Shanahan should stick with Purdy . Lance is still raw after two years , you thought Jackson threw a bad ball , it’s a thing of beauty compared to Lance . Lance throws like Tebow .

  11. Come on now, don’t compare Lance to Love – Love is actually not a bad QB and has a lot more experience at QB.

  12. Lance is more talented. My money is on him taking the job before the end of the season. He played one game is a monsoon and people think that’s enough to judge him on.

  13. Just days ago he said Jimmy G should be the man.

    Yeah, he’s getting to that age now.

  14. Lance was injured, wasn’t he? So too was Jimmy for two years. They had to learn how good Lance could be in training camp for two years now. How can you spend that much draft capital on a guy and not give him the chance to show what he can do in actual games? Did John Lynch and the scouting department waste all that time evaluating a talent who hasn’t been used? Maybe Kyle should figure out why he can’t keep a quarterback healthy. Maybe his blocking schemes suck? Maybe Shanahan is overrated as a head coach?

  15. Last week he said Garoppolo should be the starter next year. Make up your mind unless it is dimensia.

  16. Steve Young was the NFL MVP the year before Montana was traded and was setting passer rating records. Montana may have lost the job due to injury, which a lot of people have a problem with as a general principle, but Young wasn’t so much elevated as he just continued to start as NFL MVPs typically do.

  17. Not only did they spend a first round pick on Lance, but they paid a king’s ransom just to move up in the draft to draft Lance, and in entering year 3 “he isnt ready”??? Are you effing kidding me? Someone needs to get fired.

  18. Gilgameshvshumbaba says:
    February 8, 2023 at 5:17 pm
    Reminds me of a classic quarterback bungle after Montana left . You had Bono get injured in the beginning of the year which lead to Gannon coming in to lead the chiefs to a first round bye – by the time the playoff game rolled around who did Marty go with ? Future mvp Gannon? It’s a no brainer right ? Wrong . Marty chose Bono who had done nothing all year over Gannon who had hustled to get the team where it needed to be . The chiefs lost , Gannon went to the raiders and led them to the super bowl .
    Shanahan should stick with Purdy . Lance is still raw after two years , you thought Jackson threw a bad ball , it’s a thing of beauty compared to Lance . Lance throws like Tebow .
    ———————————————————————————–
    Also makes me think of that buffoon Wade Phillips riding Flutie to the playoffs, and then benching him for Rob Johnson and getting bounced. Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

  19. If you are drafted #3 overall, and after 2 years are not read then you are … Zach Wilson.

    QBs who aren’t ready after 2 years are either “projects” or busts.
    Projects like that should be drafted in the 3rd round or below.

  20. Purdy is most likely Jimmy G 2.0, a guy who can start for most teams with a high floor but a low-ish ceiling. I mean, they pretty much decided to get rid of Jimmy G. because he was solid but not elite. To be fair, that’s how most teams go after QBs these days – always look for the upgrade because you have to beat the guys like Mahomes to win SBs. You want the Mahomes not Alex Smith, when it comes to putting the team over the top. a 7th rounder who can start is a great find, but everyone loves the underdog replacement until teams figure out how to gameplan and he falls back to Earth.

  21. sellingadream says:
    February 8, 2023 at 5:35 pm
    Lance was injured, wasn’t he? So too was Jimmy for two years. They had to learn how good Lance could be in training camp for two years now. How can you spend that much draft capital on a guy and not give him the chance to show what he can do in actual games?
    =======================================================================================
    For the sake of argument based on your question. Are you saying that you should bench the better player, just because the other guy was drafted higher??? You play the player that gives you the best chance to win. That’s why Brady didnt give the job back to Bledsoe in 2001. Thats why Warner didnt give the job back to Trent Green in 2002. Etc. If Purdy is the better player (I’m not saying he is, that isnt for me to decide), then he is the starter without hesitation.

  22. This is a no brainier. If Lance had been drafted in the 2nd or 3rd round instead of the huge draft capital spent, he’d still be on the bench. Montana was on the short list as the GOAT and knows more about the art and craft of quarterbacking then the chat room idiots disparaging him. Lacking the overwhelming physical ability of an Elway or the arm of a Marino, he had to rely on his brains. His physical assets are gone, but his brain still works. Lance may yet become a good QB, Steve Young took years to develop, but he isn’t ready.

  23. mikecrabtreeschain says:
    February 8, 2023 at 5:28 pm
    Lance is more talented. My money is on him taking the job before the end of the season. He played one game is a monsoon and people think that’s enough to judge him on.

    ——————————————-
    He is more physically talented but that doesn’t make him the better quarterback. There were plenty of talented busts who got outplayed by 5,6,7th round picks . Does that happen every time? No of course not but it just goes to show a great quarterback isn’t necessarily the most talented guy on the field. There are so many intangibles as to how and why it’s insane . You’re right he had a very brief stint as a starter due to injury but unfortunately that’s not how the NFL works – he’s no where near where they were hoping this guy would be by now . Like it or not he’s not going to get too many more chances to prove that he does have it . Would they make that pick again ? All signs point to NO!

  24. Montana relied on Bill Walsh & Jerry Rice, not “his brain.” When he tried — and spectacularly failed — to be a TV talking head on football we heard just how sharp his brain was — it wasn’t.

    If he was smart he’d be silent and protect his remaining legacy.

  25. Montana is more GOAT than Aaron Rodgers will ever be. Why? SB rings; 4-1. Same with Bradshaw. I don’t care about career stats or MVPs. It’s all about the Rings. If you get the rings you get the status.

  26. It only matters in the sense of which QB gets hurt first and which second in Kyle’s “no protection but lots of coaching accolades” offense.

    No?

  27. The locker room will let the world know who they want after seeing them in training camp. Shanahan clearly cant tell what makes a good qb anymore

  28. yeahbut says:
    February 8, 2023 at 8:26 pm
    Montana relied on Bill Walsh & Jerry Rice, not “his brain.” When he tried — and spectacularly failed — to be a TV talking head on football we heard just how sharp his brain was — it wasn’t.

    If he was smart he’d be silent and protect his remaining legacy.
    ———-
    Do you realize Montana won two super bowls before Rice appeared on the scene?

  29. Boy! Who hurt Joe? If he had this kind of venom while working for TV he would have lasted longer than a minute.

  30. Whoever commented on Bono doesnt know the Chiefs 1995 season. Bono led them to that 13-3 record. Gannon helped Grbac lead the Chiefs to a 13-3 record in 1997. Marty didnt believe in Rich Gannon and let him leave to the Raiders …

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