Lynch, Shanahan Confident Garoppolo Will Be A Good Mentor for Trey Lance

Following the 49ers‘ shocking move to keep former starting quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo on the roster, signing him to a restructured one-year deal Monday, the decision to do so seemed like a no-brainer for head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch.

“Oh my god, Jimmy Garoppolo is available as a backup quarterback for us. And that makes sense for him and makes sense for us. What else is there to think about?” Shanahan said on a conference call Tuesday.

Garoppolo, a five-year starter for the San Francisco 49ers, had had one foot out the door the entire offseason, giving a presumed farewell speech after the NFC Championship loss last season. But with an offseason shoulder surgery halting much of his trade chatter, Lynch and the front office pivoted to the idea of keeping the veteran with the team about a month ago. An idea Shanahan admitted was almost impossible at the start of the training camp.

“I think that was because the chances were, to me, it seemed slim to none, just with the possibility of that happening,” Shanahan said.

Shanahan: "Chances seemed slim to none," in regards to Jimmy staying with the team initially.

— Amiliano “Amil” Fragoso (@AmilianoFragoso) August 30, 2022

Nevertheless, the 49ers and Jimmy G’s agent, Don Yee, worked swiftly and in silence to agree on a one-year, $6.5 million deal with no trade and tag clauses added. The transaction makes Garoppolo a much easier trade target while giving him the power to choose his next team. And if he doesn’t find a suitor he likes, the team and the player are more than happy to continue their partnership together.

“We have a starting quarterback as a backup. The rest of the league had a chance to get him, and I feel so fortunate that they didn’t… There’s no way that’s bad for our team,” Shanahan said. “We thought it was a win-win for both sides.”

GM John Lynch: "With a player of [Jimmy Garoppolo's] caliber, you just don't let him walk…Kyle and I floated the idea around a month ago, 'what if we kept him around as a backup?'"

— Amiliano “Amil” Fragoso (@AmilianoFragoso) August 30, 2022

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