Dan Marino and Ben Roethlisberger are the youngest starting quarterbacks to compete in a Super Bowl, both at 23 years old.
Marino’s Super Bowl experience was unsuccessful, with a 38-16 loss to the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XIX, during which he threw two interceptions. Marino never returned to the Super Bowl the rest of his career, and his perspective has prompted him to offer some excellent advise to 24-year-old San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy, who will face the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVIII.
“I would say, if I was him, just make sure you’re prepared,” Marino told Sports Illustrated. “Take care of the situation, and let it flow, man,” Marino said. “Hopefully, you can be the winner in the end and have that legacy with you for the rest of your life.”
Two key things have Marino rooting for Purdy in the Super Bowl — Purdy was “Mr. Irrelevant” in the NFL Draft and his father’s love for Marino is why Purdy wears No. 13.
“I love the story with him being the last guy drafted in the draft. And also, he said his dad was a Marino fan,” Marino said. “He wears No. 13, so I want to see him win. I think Kansas City’s gonna win but I want him to win.”
Purdy spoke in December about how, growing up, his father would point out Marino’s rapid release.
“Growing up, I tried to throw quick like Dan,” said Purdy.
Purdy now has an opportunity to accomplish something Marino never did: win a Super Bowl. And he’ll have Marino supporting for him if he can defeat Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs, something he could only imagine as a kid copying Marino in the backyard.
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