If Matt Rhule got his wish back in the 2022 NFL Draft, the league would be looking a lot different right now.
Rhule’s tenure as the Carolina Panthers’ head coach (2020 to 2022) was undone by porous quarterback play. The current Nebraska Cornhuskers coach was fired by owner David Tepper after a 1-4 start in 2022, with Steve Wilks finishing the year as the interim HC.
As it turns out, Rhule wanted the Panthers to take a future Super Bowl-starting QB and MVP candidate back in 2022. That very quarterback would be Mr. Irrelevant Brock Purdy, the final pick of the 2022 class who has emerged as a star on the west coast.
Speaking to reporters at National Signing Day on Wednesday (via Nick Geddes of On3.com), Rhule revealed that he wanted Carolina to select Purdy.
“I think Brock Purdy is an amazing player because I played against him at Iowa State,” Rhule said. “When I was in the draft room at Carolina, I brought his name up. I said, ‘Hey guys, he should be on the draft board.’ I got vetoed on that one.’”
Purdy became the 49ers’ starter late in the 2022 season following a season-ending foot injury to Jimmy Garoppolo. Three months earlier, the 49ers had lost starter Trey Lance for the year with an an ankle injury.
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Fast forward 14 months later, and Purdy has a 17-4 regular season record with 44 touchdowns against 15 interceptions. And now, he’s one win away from leading the 49ers to their first championship since 1994.
