Purdy and Tagovailoa start
“Mr. Irrelevant” is now part of a special duo
January 4, 2024, 7:54 a.m
NFL teams have the chance to secure the services of Brock Purdy 261 times in 2022 – and the playmaker is spurned 261 times until the San Francisco 49ers grab it. Since then, the quarterback has written a unique success story, and now he is reaching the next big mark.
Brock Purdy and Tua Tagovailoa will start at quarterback in the NFL Pro Bowl for the first time in their careers. The American Football League announced the two squads for its annual all-star format. On February 4th, the all-star teams from the AFC and NFC conferences will play in Orlando according to so-called flag football rules, as they did last year. This version of football is essentially contactless and tackles are not allowed.
Purdy, who was selected with the 262nd and final pick in the 2022 NFL Draft and earned the title “Mr. Irrelevant,” is one of nine San Francisco 49ers players named to the Pro Bowl. No other team sends more players to the All-Star Game. The 49ers are currently the best team in the National Football Conference. Tagovailoa plays for the Miami Dolphins, currently the second best team in the American Football Conference.
Together, Purdy and Tagovailoa represent a special duo: It is the first time since the 1999 season that both starting quarterbacks were selected for the Pro Bowl for the first time. Back then, today’s Pro Football Hall of Fame players Peyton Manning and Kurt Warner led their teams onto the field as Pro Bowl debutants. Fans, players and coaches voted in the All-Star election. Like last year, former quarterback stars and brothers Eli and Peyton Manning will coach the two All-Star teams.
“Special, special player”
For Purdy, who went into his first NFL season as the third quarterback and with no prospects of significant action and then wrote an incredible success story after injuries to the 49ers’ regular playmakers, the Pro Bowl nomination is a new highlight. The 49ers, for whom quarterback legends like Joe Montana and Steve Young collected titles, had not sent a playmaker to the All-Star Game since 2002, and now it’s that time again.
Purdy made his NFL debut in December 2022, against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with the great Tom Brady. And Purdy overran the Bucs, the score was 35:7 in the end – and Brady had lost a game against a debutant on the other side for the first time in his career.
As of last week, Purdy had produced 4,280 passing yards on the season, surpassing former playmaker Jeff Garcia in passing yards in a single season in franchise history.
“He comes here and continues to play the type of football that he knows and will continue to play,” said wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk of his quarterback, who was spurned 261 times in the 2022 draft. “Because he’s a special, special, special player.” If everything goes smoothly, the season for the nine 49ers professionals will not end with the Pro Bowl: The Californians, who were the first team in the league to qualify for the playoffs ahead of time, are considered favorites to take part in the Super Bowl in Las Vegas . It takes place a week after the All-Star spectacle.