(Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)
The San Francisco 49ers and Jimmy Garoppolo agreed to part ways this year after a pretty successful partnership that began in 2017 after his stint with the New England Patriots as Tom Brady’s backup.
Unfortunately for Garoppolo, injuries became a problem once he landed in San Francisco, as he had a few injury-plagued seasons that forced the team to look in another direction in 2021 by drafting Trey Lance.
However, Lance hasn’t panned out for the 49ers after he went down early last season, resulting in the starting job being handed back to Garoppolo when he wasn’t even expected to be on the team.
An injury derailed Garoppolo’s season once again, as he went down with a season-ending foot injury in Week 13, paving the way for rookie Brock Purdy to take over and keep the starting job heading into the 2023 NFL season.
Garoppolo signed with the Las Vegas Raiders during the offseason and participated in a joint practice with his old team this week, which led head coach Kyle Shanahan to talk about the veteran’s time with the 49ers, via Ari Meirov.
#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 had nothing but high praise for Garoppolo, especially when saying he was the team’s best quarterback since Hall of Famer Steve Young took over for four-time Super Bowl winner Joe Montana.
Unfortunately, Garoppolo is a “what if” story in the NFL, as he could’ve been incredibly successful had he not been so injury-prone during his time with the 49ers.
San Francisco could’ve very well won a Super Bowl with the veteran at the helm, but it wasn’t meant to be.
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