A few famous Joes have some advice for 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy ahead of his first Super Bowl. Joe Montana, the first player to win three Super Bowl MVPs, and Joe Burrow, who led the Bengals to the Super Bowl two years ago, offered similar advice to Purdy as he prepares to face the Chiefs Kansas City at Super Bowl LVIII.
Montana and Burrow agree that while the environment around it is different, the Super Bowl is no different than any other game once the ball is thrown. For Burrow, part of his pregame goal was to keep his emotions in check.
“You try your best not to feel that feeling,” Burrow told Yahoo! Sports. “It definitely crosses your mind at times. But I think if you want to be successful, you have to try to treat it like any other game and go about your business.”
Few people understand what Purdy is about to experience than Montana, who is just one of six quarterbacks to have started in at least four Super Bowls. Montana’s ability to focus on the task at hand was a big reason he went 4-0 in his Super Bowl starts. As a former 49er, Montana surely hopes Purdy can channel that same attention on Sunday.
“As they get on the field, there will be a lot more enthusiasm and understanding of what’s going on,” Montana said. “But once you get into the game, if you can still hear the crowd, something is wrong. Because most of the time I don’t remember hearing – the only time I remember hearing the crowd, it was either at the end of the match or at the end of the match. the beginning.
“And you have to find a way to focus on what’s going on, what you’re doing, what you’re working on, and find ways to stay engaged, so that it doesn’t come to mind. And there’s There are so many people on the sidelines, and they start wanting to talk to you too. So you have to try to find a way to stay involved. When the defense is out there, he either has to be engaged in what they’re trying to do to participate in the next series or commit to monitoring and supporting the defenders who are on the field.
Although Sunday will be his first Super Bowl, Purdy has played under pressure in each of the last two games. He struggled at times against the Packers, but played a key role in San Francisco’s comeback. He did it again a week later against the Lions. Purdy made several big plays with his arm as well as his legs as the 49ers turned a 24-7 deficit into a 34-31 victory.
Boomer Esiason, who played against Montana in Super Bowl XXIII, sat down with Purdy before Sunday’s game in a report that will air during CBS Sports’ Super Bowl pregame show. Esiason gave Purdy no advice; the former Bengals quarterback and league MVP didn’t think Purdy needed it.
“I was really, really impressed talking to him,” Esiason said on a conference call before Sunday’s game. “I have to tell you… I expect him to have a huge game on Sunday. … His teammates love and respect him. George Kittle, Deebo Samuel, Christian McCaffrey and Trent Williams have all taken this kid under their wing.
“We saw throughout the year how they defended him because there are negative narratives about being a game manager.”