Kyle Shanahan: 49ers QB situation “not set in stone”

Brock Purdy. Trey Lance. Sam Darnold.

Each of the three prime candidates to be the starting quarterback for the 49ers in 2023 have been the focus of rumors this offseason. It just depended on the day and which NFL “insider” was talking.

Kyle Shanahan sat down with Steve Wyche of NFL Network at the NFL Owners Meetings in late March and laid out his teams’ quarterback situation.

“We have three guys who can play, there’s only one spot, and we have a good team,” said Shanahan. “I see it as a cool situation.”

“Last year we had some unknown. We believed in Trey (Lance), but he hadn’t gone out and done it yet. But we believed in him. We got to see him for a year and a half, what he could do. And he lost an opportunity, which happens in football. And we had another guy come in, very similar to Trey but less reps and stuff. Brock (Purdy) got that opportunity. Now we are in this situation.”

“I get how everyone wants something set in stone, but it’s not set in stone. I love the options. I love the experience that Brock got. I love that Trey got some too. I love the ability we have in the room. Besides those three, I love our team around them. Let’s let it play out, and all I have to do is survive the press conferences.”

It’s important to note these comments came after Shanahan told the 49ers local media that Brock Purdy was the “leader in the clubhouse” to be the starter. They paint a more open lane for Trey Lance to wrest the starting job from Purdy.

Based on his performance last season, Brock Purdy is a known entity. The rookie quarterback went out and executed Shanahan’s offense to near perfection helping the team win eight games in a row. However, a torn UCL injury in Purdy’s throwing elbow has sidelined him for the offseason, and his availability for training camp is up in the air.

Meanwhile, Trey Lance has spent the offseason working with private quarterback coach Jeff Christensen. Among Christensen’s clients is none other than Patrick Mahomes. Lance had the opportunity to work with the two-time Super Bowl winner prior to the start of the 49ers offseason program.

Lance has the elite traits teams look for in a quarterback. His size, arm, ability to move and brain led to him being taken third overall in the 2021 draft. During his first two seasons, both slowed by injuries, Lance has shown flashes of his immense potential.

Regardless of which side of the debate you fall on, if you are a 49ers fan having Trey Lance finally put it all together and Brock Purdy return healthy is good news.

The 49ers have one of, if not the best rosters in all professional football. A competition between Lance and Purdy will bring out the best in both and could help the team finally bring home that elusive sixth Lombardi Trophy.