The San Francisco 49ers have signed starting quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo to a five-year deal worth $137.5 million, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network. At a $27.5 million per year average, it becomes the biggest deal in NFL history. To put that in perspective, NFL Network reports that Garoppolo is scheduled to make nearly twice as much as New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady in 2018, who is scheduled to earn $14 million.
The 49ers and QB Jimmy Garoppolo have agreed to a five-year, $137.5 million contract, source says. The biggest deal in NFL history on a average-per-year basis.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) February 8, 2018
The five-year deal, which is expected to be made official and announced soon by the 49ers, also puts Garoppolo's contract in line with the six-year contracts head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch received last year.
The 49ers are still finalizing the contract's details. "They are putting the finishing touches on this deal," Garafolo said on NFL Network. "They are expected to announce it today."
"Still working on it. Not done yet," one high-ranking 49ers official texted Adam Schefter of ESPN.
Schefter also reported that Garoppolo's deal will include the largest three-year cash total for a new contract in NFL history at nearly $90 million.
The news breaks only three months after the Patriots struck a deal with the 49ers, sending Garoppolo to the Bay Area for a second-round draft pick. Ian Rappaport of NFL Network reported on Super Bowl Sunday that a deal was close between the two sides.
At the Senior Bowl in Mobile Alabama, Lynch talked about Garoppolo and seemed confident that a deal would get done.
"He was a great addition to our team, kind of a game changer," Lynch said. "When you find the right guy at that position, it's really good for your franchise. We believe we've found the right guy.
"Now the challenge is getting Jimmy signed. We're working hard towards that, and we'll see. I think he wants to be with us and we want him there. I think it makes too much sense not to happen and so it's just a matter of getting it done."
Garoppolo has been endorsed by many, including Patriots assistant quarterbacks coach Jerry Schuplinski, since the trade. Schuplinski said that he wasn't surprised by Garoppolo's success and added, "I'm proud of him. I want him to do well."
Tom Brady, who has won five of eight Super Bowl appearances in a 17-season span and is the man Garoppolo learned from during his first three-and-a-half NFL seasons, also believes in the 49ers quarterback. According to Nick Schwartz of USA Today, during a radio interview with WEEI, Brady said he is happy for Garoppolo and thanked his former teammate for doing the Patriots a favor by beating the Jaguars during the 49ers' Week 16 contest. The loss by Jacksonville helped the Patriots clinch a first-round bye.
"He's done a great job," Brady said. "You go in there and get the opportunity to play and win games, that's what we're all here for. It was good to see, and good for them to beat Jacksonville. That certainly helped us. I'm really happy for Jimmy. He's worked really hard, and it shows up when he goes out there and plays really well."
Brady added that Garoppolo and the 49ers deserve all the credit for what they accomplished together.
"Any time you're in a winning environment, that definitely helps, and I think guys really enjoy that. You take what you can and try to use it in other places if that's where you go. Like I said, I think what they're doing is a credit to them. I don't think anyone should take credit for what those guys have accomplished."
While Garoppolo entered the end of the 49ers' Week 12 game against the Seattle Seahawks following an injury to rookie quarterback C.J. Beathard, he wasn't named the starter until the next week against the Chicago Bears. Garoppolo finished the season by leading the 49ers on a five-game win streak, which included three consecutive victories against playoff teams (Titans, Jaguars, Rams) in the final three games.
In five starts and six game appearances with the 49ers in 2017, Garoppolo completed 120-of-178 pass attempts for 1,560 yards, seven touchdowns, five interceptions, a passer rating of 96.2, and even had a rushing touchdown.
"He was great for us, and he made people around him better," Lynch said of Garoppolo on January 2. "I think that's the mark of a player who has an opportunity to be special, is do you make people around you better. He did that."
Despite having less time to learn Shanahan's offense than the rest of his new 49ers teammates, Garoppolo showed poise and command of the group in his starts. He enjoyed playing in Shanahan's system and, following the 49ers finale against the Rams, explained what he liked about it.
"There's a little bit of everything, actually," Garoppolo said on January 1. "It's not just a spread offense or a run-heavy offense. We mix in just about everything that you could, and it keeps the defense on their toes. It keeps them guessing, and I really like that."
During his career, the 49ers' new long-term starter has started seven games, including two with the Patriots and five with the 49ers. Garoppolo is 7-0 in those games.
New England initially selected Garoppolo in the second round (62nd overall) of the 2014 draft. Before his time with the 49ers, he appeared in 17 games (two starts) over his four seasons with the Patriots. During those games, Garoppolo completed 67-percent of his passes for 690 yards, five touchdowns, no interceptions, and a passer rating of 106.2. In two starts for the Patriots in 2016, Garoppolo went 42-of-59 (71.2 percent) for 496 yards, four touchdowns, and a passer rating of 113.3.
Over his four-year NFL career, Garoppolo has completed 183-of-272 pass attempts for 2,250 yards, 12 touchdowns, five interceptions, a passer rating of 99.7, and a rushing touchdown during his time with both the Patriots and 49ers.
David Bonilla contributed to this article.
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