Why does San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy wear the No. 13 jersey?
Brock Purdy makes his own luck. A three-star recruit out of Perry High School in Gilbert, Arizona, he began his college career as Iowa State’s third-choice quarterback. Purdy is one of the most efficient QBs in the NFLGetty Handed a chance due to a combination of injury and poor play, he led Iowa to four-straight winning seasons – a first for the program. But the three-time All-Big 12 QB, who broke 32 school records, was branded Mr Irrelevant after joining the San Francisco 49ers with the final pick of the 2022 NFL Draft. Finding himself the third-string again, he once again got his chance as the people above him failed, including Jimmy Garroppolo and third overall pick in his own draft class Trey Lance. Purdy has not relinquished his starting job since and No. 13 jerseys are a common sight in the Bay Area with Purdy also in line for a huge contract. At the end of this season he will enter the final 12 months of his four-year rookie deal. Why did Brock Purdy pick the No. 13 jersey? Why did he pick that number? In honor of his dad Shawn’s favorite QB. “My dad grew up a Miami Dolphins fan and he loved Dan Marino,” Purdy revealed. “So when I was growing up, my dad always tried to teach me to throw with a quick motion like Dan Marino. “I was like, ‘What number was he? And he said 13. So I’ve always been 13.” While the number is unlucky for some, Purdy has enjoyed some good breaks, as well as adversity in the UCL tear that ended his NFC Championship game after four passes in 2023. When Brock Purdy met his idol Dan Marino Purdy was 19 days old when Dan Marino threw the final pass of his NFL career on January 15, 2000. He got to meet his idol ahead of a Thursday Night Football clash against the New York Giants last year thanks to another former Dolphins passer, Ryan Fitzpatrick. View Tweet: https://t.co/DWhT8Gm17Z Marino was a legend in the Purdy householdGetty “It’s an honor, man,” Purdy said as he was greeted by Marino. “My dad, I mean he loved you growing up. “I wear 13 and everything because of you man so appreciate it.” Purdy was born on December 27, 1999, a day on which Marino faced the Jets. “My dad always said I got to see you play the day I was born,” he said. Marino recalled put on a show for his youngest fan – throwing for 322 yards and three touchdowns in a 38-31 loss. Purdy grew up with a poster of Marino and signed football from the Hall of Famer in his room. “Dan Marino’s just a winner,” Purdy told the Des Moines Register in 2018. “He does whatever it takes to win. He elevates his teammates’ game around him. “When I go back and watch his highlights and things that he did, I try to put that on how I play the game.” How many Super Bowls has Dan Marino won? Marino threw for over 60,000 yards over his career and led the league in passing five times. But he never won a Super Bowl – perhaps the greatest player never to do so. Incredibly, Purdy has as many Super Bowl appearances as the man he grew up idolizing with both losing on their only trip to the big game. The rising star has plenty of time to one-up the all-time great and one day another quarterback might be donning the number because his 49ers-mad dad was a huge Purdy fan.
Brock Purdy makes his own luck.
A three-star recruit out of Perry High School in Gilbert, Arizona, he began his college career as Iowa State’s third-choice quarterback.
Handed a chance due to a combination of injury and poor play, he led Iowa to four-straight winning seasons – a first for the program.
But the three-time All-Big 12 QB, who broke 32 school records, was branded Mr Irrelevant after joining the San Francisco 49ers with the final pick of the 2022 NFL Draft.
Finding himself the third-string again, he once again got his chance as the people above him failed, including Jimmy Garroppolo and third overall pick in his own draft class Trey Lance.
Purdy has not relinquished his starting job since and No. 13 jerseys are a common sight in the Bay Area with Purdy also in line for a huge contract.
At the end of this season he will enter the final 12 months of his four-year rookie deal.
Why did Brock Purdy pick the No. 13 jersey?
Why did he pick that number? In honor of his dad Shawn’s favorite QB.
“My dad grew up a Miami Dolphins fan and he loved Dan Marino,” Purdy revealed. “So when I was growing up, my dad always tried to teach me to throw with a quick motion like Dan Marino.
“I was like, ‘What number was he? And he said 13. So I’ve always been 13.”
While the number is unlucky for some, Purdy has enjoyed some good breaks, as well as adversity in the UCL tear that ended his NFC Championship game after four passes in 2023.
When Brock Purdy met his idol Dan Marino
Purdy was 19 days old when Dan Marino threw the final pass of his NFL career on January 15, 2000.
He got to meet his idol ahead of a Thursday Night Football clash against the New York Giants last year thanks to another former Dolphins passer, Ryan Fitzpatrick.
“It’s an honor, man,” Purdy said as he was greeted by Marino. “My dad, I mean he loved you growing up.
“I wear 13 and everything because of you man so appreciate it.”
Purdy was born on December 27, 1999, a day on which Marino faced the Jets.
“My dad always said I got to see you play the day I was born,” he said.
Marino recalled put on a show for his youngest fan – throwing for 322 yards and three touchdowns in a 38-31 loss.
Purdy grew up with a poster of Marino and signed football from the Hall of Famer in his room.
“Dan Marino’s just a winner,” Purdy told the Des Moines Register in 2018. “He does whatever it takes to win. He elevates his teammates’ game around him.
“When I go back and watch his highlights and things that he did, I try to put that on how I play the game.”
How many Super Bowls has Dan Marino won?
Marino threw for over 60,000 yards over his career and led the league in passing five times.
But he never won a Super Bowl – perhaps the greatest player never to do so.
Incredibly, Purdy has as many Super Bowl appearances as the man he grew up idolizing with both losing on their only trip to the big game.
The rising star has plenty of time to one-up the all-time great and one day another quarterback might be donning the number because his 49ers-mad dad was a huge Purdy fan.
