The San Francisco 49ers nearly made a move for a former star quarterback last postseason. Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle reported Thursday that the 49ers would have signed Philip Rivers if the team made Super Bowl LVII this past February.
“No joke: #49ers would have signed Philip Rivers if they’d reached the Super Bowl,” Branch posted Thursday afternoon.
No joke: #49ers would have signed Philip Rivers if they'd reached the Super Bowl. https://t.co/4NCdT7ljAp pic.twitter.com/1CIDD0ykGH
— Eric Branch (@Eric_Branch) August 10, 2023
The quarterback-needy Niners were in a position of weakness last season. Jimmy Garoppolo, Trey Lance, and Brock Purdy all went down with injuries at one time or another. Lance, who started the year as the No. 1 quarterback, hurt himself early on. Then Garoppolo suffered an injury, as well, which gave way to the former Iowa State Cyclone to assume the reigns. The 49ers then went on a huge run all the way into the playoffs. But Purdy sustained a UCL injury in the NFC Championship Game that would have ruled him out completely. So, by then, it’s probably no surprise that the 49ers reached out to a veteran quarterback.
The 49ers were also linked to former quarterback Ben Roethlisberger last season as well. At least, according to Big Ben, who said the team reached out to him.
It’s clear that the 49ers felt they were in a very murky position last winter. It would have really been something had the team, in fact, signed Rivers for the Super Bowl.
The NFL world reacted to the shocking 49ers news.
https://t.co/BF2ehxDUQh pic.twitter.com/WD9yhB1vox
— shamus (@shamus_clancy) August 10, 2023
Love that Jimmy just did an interview today where he said he would’ve played in the Super Bowl if they got there and Kyle was like no thanks. https://t.co/xLJfuKt5Hf
— Adam Wells (@adamwells1985) August 10, 2023
Team really seems focused on the upcoming season and not hung up on the previous one at all https://t.co/F0DOtpr67B
— Jordan (@FRESHticles) August 10, 2023
Why would they not sign him for the playoff run instead of letting Josh Johnson be QB2 https://t.co/M0YDEyK9Nc pic.twitter.com/diBvugXyg6
— Squid (@Squidrow_) August 10, 2023
Would have been great to see! https://t.co/ixx0kcTPSe
— David J. Chao – ProFootballDoc (@ProFootballDoc) August 10, 2023
