When running back Tevin Coleman went to Santa Clara to sign with the San Francisco 49ers on March 13, quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo was in the building and was one of the first players he met. The versatile Coleman was brought in to help run the football but will undoubtedly catch passes from Garoppolo as well.
Coleman joined 95.7 The Game on Thursday and discussed his new quarterback.
"Just talking with him and speaking with him, he's a great guy," Coleman told Damon Bruce, Ray Ratto, and Matt Kolsky. "Just ready to catch some passes from him."
Garoppolo won't begin throwing to his teammates until organized team activities kick off later this month. The 49ers hope to have the quarterback medically cleared to fully participate in practices by training camp.
Coleman knows great quarterback play when he sees it. Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan was named the league's Most Valuable Player during the running back's second NFL season and Kyle Shanahan's last in Atlanta. Coleman was asked what similarities he sees between Garoppolo and Ryan.
"Just being a leader, and just taking over," Coleman responded. "Just getting guys in the right spots, and getting guys the ball while they're open. Those are good traits by them, and they're good role-model guys."
That MVP season in 2016 also happened to be Kyle Shanahan's last in Atlanta, when he served as the team's offensive coordinator. He left following the Falcons' Super Bowl run to become the head coach of the 49ers and took running backs coach Bobby Turner with him.
Coleman said he could not wait to reunite with Shanahan and Turner. Their presence in San Francisco was one of the reasons he was eager to sign there. That and the $10 million he could make over the next two seasons.
"He's a very smart guy," Coleman said of Shanahan. "He knows defenses. It's just amazing to be back with him."
There is no doubt that Shanahan is salivating at the prospect of once again having multiple versatile running backs on offense. The 49ers also have Jerick McKinnon, who is returning from an ACL injury, and Matt Breida in the running backs room.
"I'm just real excited to play with those guys," Coleman said. "Those guys are great guys, good competitors. I'm just ready to add to their speed, and ready to play with them and compete with them."
In addition to lining up in the backfield, Coleman expects to see some snaps split out at receiver. Is that aspect of his game something he enjoys?
"Oh yeah, definitely," Coleman answered. "Splitting out in the backfield, it just adds more to my game, and just getting different looks and things out wide, and catching the ball instead of just running the ball."
You can listen to the entire conversation with Coleman, which begins at about the 11:40 mark, below.