Former NFL safety turned ESPN analyst has been critical of the San Francisco 49ers this season. He's been critical of Jimmy Garoppolo, saying that he didn't believe in the quarterback. With the 49ers headed to Super Bowl LIV to face the Kansas City Chiefs, the analyst has changed his tune a bit.
Clark joined KNBR on Thursday, and after searching diligently for some coffee, said Garoppolo is perfectly capable of leading the 49ers to a win over the Chiefs in Miami.
"I believe you have to rely on the run game, but that doesn't mean he can't make the required throws to win a Super Bowl," Clark said on the Murph and Mac show.
Clark points out that even though Garoppolo's critics point to the 49ers' two playoff victories as examples of the quarterback not making enough plays, the ESPN analyst points out that Garoppolo had already shown during the regular season that he could do so. San Francisco's dominant running game just didn't make it necessary against the Minnesota Vikings or Green Bay Packers.
Now, if winning involves getting into a shootout with Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, Clark isn't as confident Garoppolo can keep pace with the 24-year-old passer.
"The other part is: Do you fully trust him in a shootout with Patrick Mahomes? I don't," Clark continues. "So this is why you have to run the football. You have to rely on this great defense. Football is a team sport. ... Jimmy G just has to keep doing his job, making the throws when they depend on him to do so, and we've seen him do that.
"And I still believe that, if required, and if that's what San Francisco needs from Jimmy G, that he's capable of making the throws to win the game."
You can listen to the entire conversation with Clark below.