Caitlin Clark has made no secret of her love for the sport, especially the NFL. The Indiana Fever and WNBA star has repeatedly stated that she is a fan of Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce’s Kansas City Chiefs, but she is much more connected to the sport than previously thought.
Even before becoming one of the most prominent figures on the Iowa Hawkeyes and one of the most influential players in women’s sports in the United States, her name was already well known in American football.
Clark’s strange connection to the San Francisco 49ers
Before becoming an established star in the NFL and with the San Francisco 49ers, Brock Purdy was a starter at Iowa State, and he did pretty well.
Even then, the quarterback was showing his talent: he recorded the most wins (30), led in passing yards (12,170), completions (993), and touchdowns (81).
However, Purdy’s backup was no slouch either: none other than Blake Clark, Caitlin’s older brother, who wore the team’s colors from 2018 to 2022.
The two shared a locker room for several years and built a solid friendship that continues to this day. In fact, Blake was invited to be part of her wedding to Jenna Brandt, a gesture that underscores the closeness between the two and portrays the highly competitive environment in which Caitlin grew up.
In addition, Prudy has emphasized on several occasions that when she saw her play, CC’s talent was undeniable and even inspired her:
“When you see her out there getting her teammates fired up and stuff like that, it reminds you of when you’re out on the field playing and your willingness to win,” Prudy said.
Despite this, Caitlin has not maintained strong ties with the 49ers QB, but her connection to the NFL continues to grow.
Today, CC breaks records, fills stadiums, and raises the profile of women’s basketball, but her story reflects her passion for the sport, the influence of athletic excellence, and unexpected connections that confirm that her path to stardom began long before the spotlight.
Meanwhile, the 49ers finished the 2025 regular season with a 12-5 record, but finished third in the NFC West (behind the Seahawks and Rams). For this reason, on Sunday, January 11, Brock Purdy and his team will play the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFL playoffs wild card round at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.
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