Matt Rhule reveals he was vetoed on drafting Brock Purdy to Carolina Panthers

In an alternate universe, San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy isn’t preparing to go head-to-head against the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVIII at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas this Sunday.

That’s because Purdy wouldn’t be a 49er. He’d be a Carolina Panther. And the potential headline of “Mr. Irrelevant leads 49ers to Super Bowl championship” wouldn’t even be in the mix to be printed. Such a scenario where Purdy is quarterbacking the Panthers could have been reality if the organization had listened to Matt Rhule, the former Panthers now Nebraska head coach.

Rhule, addressing the media on National Signing Day Wednesday, revealed that he wanted to draft the former Iowa State signal-caller. The Panthers’ brass, however, had other plans.

“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.”

Brock Purdy ‘thankful’ to be playing in Super Bowl

Perhaps Rhule’s tenure in Carolina could have been different if he hadn’t been vetoed on Purdy. The Panthers fired him after a 1-4 start in 2022 and 11-27 record overall across two plus seasons. Rhule returned to the college game this past season, signing an eight-year, $74-million deal to become the 31st head coach of the Cornhuskers. Nebraska went 5-7 in year one under Rhule, dropping its final four games after getting off to a 5-3 start.

Rhule did end up coaching a quarterback with the last name Purdy in 2023, but not Brock. Chubba Purdy, Brock’s brother, appeared in six games for Nebraska this past season. He entered the transfer portal after the season and committed to play for Nevada.

His older brother, meanwhile, is four days away from the biggest game of his life. While Purdy acknowledged Monday he’s “thankful” to be playing in the Super Bowl, he’s more focused on being a good teammate throughout the process.

“Obviously, yeah, we’re playing in the Super Bowl. And I’m very honored and thankful,” Purdy said at Super Bowl Opening Day. “I want to win a championship for this organization. But more than anything, I’m trying to serve my guys on this team well and love on them well and the whole organization and everyone in my life. That’s how I view it.”