Safe to say there’s no love lost between Las Vegas Raider Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo and the 49ers organization.
When Garoppolo was acquired by the 49ers in exchange for a second-round pick, the expectation was that the 49ers finally found their franchise quarterback. Garoppolo went 5-0 as a starter to begin his 49ers career; it looked like the 49ers found their guy.
That idea was quickly scrapped in the 2018 season: when Garoppolo tore his ACL in Week Three against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Garoppolo rebounded with a top-notch 2019 season in which he completed 68 percent of his passes, threw for 3,810 yards, 20 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions in 16 games. However, the alarm bells started to go off in that playoff run. Head Coach Kyle Shanahan made a concerted effort to take the ball out of Garoppolo’s hands and win with a power-running attack. Garoppolo only threw 19 passes in the NFC Divisional Round against the Minnesota Vikings in a 27-10 victory. His next game against the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Championship Game was even more concerning as Garoppolo only threw eight passes.
That showed that Shanahan had no faith that Jimmy Garoppolo could win them a playoff game, and they would try to win using Shanhan’s zone-running scheme.
Jump ahead to the Super Bowl Jimmy Garoppolo would still be the quarterback if he hit this pass to Emmanuel Sanders.
Jimmy Garoppolo had Emmanuel Sanders open behind the defense to give the #49ers the lead with just over a minute to go. Missed the throw, and lost the game. Average QB at best. pic.twitter.com/7jDjntFlqY
— Alex Ohári 🔴⚫️ (@FutureCanes) February 3, 2020
Garoppolo missed most of the 2020 season with a high-ankle sprain, and in 2021 the 49ers had his replacement in mind North Dakota State Quarterback Trey Lance. Lance started for the Bison for one year in 2019. He had an impressive season as he threw for 2,786 yards, 28 touchdowns, and zero interceptions while rushing for 1,100 yards and 14 touchdowns. The COVID-19 pandemic canceled all but one game of Lance’s sophomore campaign, in which he played against Central Arkansas, threw for two touchdowns, and ran for two.
The 49ers heading into the draft: were high on Lance and were talks that the Niners would trade up to select Alabama Quarterback Mac Jones. The Niners took Lance, and thus the quarterback in waiting for Jimmy Garoppolo had been found.
Garoppolo opened up about how he felt about the team deciding to pick his replacement.
Las Vegas Raiders Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo on the Trey Lance selection “It was real awkward,”
Jimmy Garoppolo wasn’t thrilled when the 49ers decided to draft Trey Lance in 2021. (VIA San Francisco Chronicle)
“Yeah the year before was real awkward.”
“That was tougher than this past year, honestly. You’re always gonna be dealt a hard hand at some point, and you’ve just got to make the best of it, and that’s what I’ve tried to do. That was a hard time. But I had some good people around me to lean on.
“The brothers in the locker room, those guys played a big role. I don’t think fans always saw all that stuff, but those guys really picked me up when I was down sometimes. That’s why I love those guys in the locker room. All the crap that we went through for four to five years, whatever it was, we all stayed together in the locker room, and I thought that’s what made us such a tight group.” (VIA San Francisco Chronicle)
There’s no doubt that Garoppolo still has the respect of his old teammates.
"I'm going to have to go give him a big hug."
CMC has nothing but love for Jimmy Garoppolo ❤️️ pic.twitter.com/7AYcfM9R07
— 49ers on NBCS (@NBCS49ers) August 10, 2023
All-Pro LB Fred Warner and Garoppolo had this hilarious exchange when the two teams faced off in joint practices.
#49ers Fred Warner was a tad bit disappointed with #Raiders Jimmy Garoppolo ‼️ pic.twitter.com/QoSq8nDSmr
— WayneBreezie (@thewaynebreezie) August 10, 2023
49ers Cornerback Charvarius Ward has plans to intercept Garoppolo when the two teams face off on Sunday.
Last week 49ers CB Charvarius (Mooney) Ward told me, re ex-teammate Jimmy Garoppolo: "Man I miss Jimmy. Jimmy’s a great guy, man, so charming and charismatic. His smile, the way he talks to you, he just makes you feel good. I’m definitely gonna intercept him next week, though."
— Michael Silver (@MikeSilver) August 10, 2023
Head Coach Kyle Shanahan gave Garoppolo the ultimate praise on Thursday.
#49ers HC Kyle Shanahan on QB Jimmy Garoppolo's time in San Francisco:
"Jimmy was unbelievable here. I think he was the best quarterback here in about 20 years since Steve Young. Every time he played and stayed healthy, we were either in the Super Bowl or NFC Championship Game."… pic.twitter.com/lfiUjZeZc1
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) August 10, 2023
Shanahan didn’t hate Garoppolo but he wasn’t the right quarterback to run Shanahan’s system. Shanahan prefers guys who won’t put the ball in harm’s way and can stay healthy throughout the season. Garoppolo didn’t provide either of those things. Yet he always made enough plays to help the 49ers win crucial playoff games. None of the Niners’ playoff runs ended in Super Bowls, but they have been in contention every year because of the talent on the roster and Shanahan’s ability to get the most out of his teams.
Now Jimmy Garoppolo is reunited with old offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels who coached Garoppolo from 2014-2017. Garoppolo is going to a better situation in Las Vegas where he’s the unquestioned starting quarterback for a Raiders team that is looking to bounce back from a 6-11 season. Garoppolo will have plenty of weapons to throw to as they have All-Pro Wide Receiver Davante Adams who’s in year two of a five-year contract signed in 2022. Garoppolo also has Jakobi Meyers who signed with the team as a free agent, and the shifty Hunter Renfrow.
The 49ers-Jimmy Garoppolo partnership deserved a better ending, but they had some great moments together and Garoppolo still has the respect of everyone in the 49ers organization. In the end, it was time for both sides to move on.
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