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How Purdy inspired Vikings QB Darnold during short-lived 49ers union originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Sam Darnold’s time with the 49ers was short-lived, but beneficial nonetheless.
The veteran quarterback spent the 2023 NFL season mostly as a backup to 49ers starter Brock Purdy, and in their short time together, Darnold said he observed and learned plenty from Purdy and his other San Francisco teammates and coaches.
“I just learned so much in San Francisco, not only from the coaches, but from the players,” Darnold recently told Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer (h/t 49ers Webzone). “The way Brock prepared every single week was inspiring to me. We didn’t leave one stone unturned throughout the week.”
The 49ers signed the former No. 3 overall draft pick to a one-year deal before the start of the 2023 season. Darnold spent his first three seasons with the New York Jets, where he struggled in 38 starts, before being dealt to the Carolina Panthers in 2021 where he spent two seasons.
In the Bay, Darnold witnessed Purdy up-close lead the 49ers to five consecutive wins to open the season before finishing with an NFC West-leading 12-5 record, pulling off back-to-back hard-fought playoff victories before falling just short of winning Super Bowl LVIII against Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs.
And even though he started just one game during San Francisco’s successful season, Darnold continuously took notes from the backseat.
“If there ever was a question, there were so many people to go, ‘Hey, we didn’t necessarily talk about this, what happens in the pass protection if there’s a blitz?’ ” Darnold explained. “Then you add a couple words to the play-call to add a can or alert to it.
“There’s an answer for every single coverage that we have on tape and every single play that we call.”
After a tough start to his NFL career, the 49ers helped Darnold put things into perspective before his fresh start with the Minnesota Vikings.
After parting ways with six-year starter…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/purdy-inspired-vikings-qb-darnold-181434730.html
Author : NBC Sports BayArea
Publish date : 2024-08-13 18:43:22
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