Former San Francisco 49ers QB is returning

It’s safe to say Christian Ponder is a believer in Brock Purdy.

As the San Francisco 49ers prepare for their rematch with the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVIII — they previously lost to the Chiefs in the Super Bowl four years prior, 31-20 — there’s a lot of chatter surrounding Purdy, much of which is focused on the idea that he’s a “game manager.”

Ponder — a former first-round draft pick and an ex-San Francisco 49ers quarterback — spoke highly of the young MVP candidate while discussing his business network, The Post, and their new partnership with The Players’ Tribune.

“The moment never looks too big for him,” said Ponder of Purdy during a one-on-one interview. “I think that’s what I’ve been impressed with. When he stepped in last year, I thought this guy is not going to succeed — what a tough position to be in. He proved everyone wrong and then again this year, the pressure’s on him to perform when they want lost three games in a row, a lot of pressure on him perform, and he stepped up to the plate and keeps showing up.”

PROMOTED

Ponder was a highly touted quarterback coming out of FSU. After being selected No. 12 overall in the 2011 NFL Draft, he went on to start 36 of his 38 appearances, including leading the Minnesota Vikings to the playoffs during the 2012 season. Ponder spent his last year in the NFL as a backup with the Niners during the 2016 season.

Although Purdy has been labeled as a “game manager” by some in the media due to the Niners’ stacked supporting cast — San Francisco has a league-high nine Pro Bowlers on its roster — Ponder says that’s not a bad label to have as a quarterback.