How Jimmy G’s up-and-down 49ers tenure should be remembered
Upon completion of his cross-country trip that late-October day in 2017, Jimmy Garoppolo was anointed as the 49ers’ franchise quarterback.
He was the player entrusted with the responsibility — and expectation — of bringing the organization back to prominence. What a memorable 5 1/2-year ride it was with Garoppolo as the face of the organization.
“I’m so grateful to Jimmy for everything he did for our organization,” 49ers general manager John Lynch recently told NBC Sports Bay Area. “He played some really good football and was a great teammate.”
Garoppolo’s time with the 49ers came to an end Monday after the quarterback reportedly agreed to a three-year, $67.5 million contract with the Las Vegas Raiders, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
It was not a surprise, of course.
Coach Kyle Shanahan two days after the 2022 NFL season said he saw “no scenario’ in which Garoppolo would remain with the 49ers — not when Trey Lance and Brock Purdy were under contract and slated as the top two quarterbacks (in whatever order) for at least two more seasons.
While Garoppolo never became the star player the 49ers hoped they were getting in a trade from the New England Patriots, there is little debate he leaves the organization in a better place than when he arrived.
“First of all, he comes in and looks like a movie star,” Lynch said. “Then, he gets on the field and he’s a really gifted thrower.”
The 49ers were 0-8 in the first season of the Shanahan-Lynch regime when the deal was made to acquire Garoppolo.
He arrived at Levi’s Stadium for the first time in the passenger seat of a black Chevy Suburban. He stepped out amid a throng of media, 49ers employees and his agents.
It was clear Garoppolo, after serving 3 1/2 years as Tom Brady’s backup in New England, was comfortable in the 49ers’ driver’s seat.
At his introductory press conference, Garoppolo began speaking even before Lynch or Shanahan could say a word.
“I think Kyle will tell you a great quality of a quarterback is taking charge,” Lynch said that day. “I thought I was starting. But, hey, have at it, Jimmy.”
He moved into the starting lineup for the final five games of the 2017 season. The 49ers won each of those five games to pump some life into the win-starved fan base.
“When you win your first five games, he was on fire,” Lynch said. “It did create a lot of energy. We talk about where Levi’s Stadium is now as a home-field advantage. I think a lot of that started with that run we started with Jimmy.”
It started out like a storybook. Garoppolo experienced immediate success with little knowledge of the playbook. He was deemed ready to play after only a month with the team.
After leading the 49ers to five consecutive victories to finish his first season with the club, the 49ers awarded him with a five-year, $137.5 million contract.
The big contract, of course, led to even bigger expectations and pressure to perform.
Garoppolo proved to be a leader in the years that followed, especially with his handling of the 2021 and ’22 seasons after the club traded up to No. 3 overall to select his successor, Lance, in the NFL draft.
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