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Eight passes. That was Jimmy Garoppolo's workload against the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Championship Game. Those eight passes, six of which were completed for 77 yards, weren't necessarily what ultimately won the game for the San Francisco 49ers. It was the team's punishing run game that racked up 285 total rushing yards that did it.
Still, they're those eight pass attempts by Jimmy Garoppolo that the quarterback's critics remember.
"Look, Kyle Shanahan was afraid to pass," they exclaimed.
"I told you Jimmy G couldn't be trusted to carry the team to a meaningful win," they shouted from their podcasts, television shows, or YouTube videos.
Kyle Shanahan believes the negative narrative about his quarterback is preposterous.
"I think its' really funny that people say that,"
Shanahan told reporters on Tuesday. "Does anyone notice how good we were running the ball? We weren't just running it to punt and try to win 3-0."
The 49ers found a weakness against the Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers and exploited it.
Players like Emmanuel Sanders and Joe Staley are getting tired of the questions about Garoppolo. It's absurd to them. They trust their quarterback.
Hearing the term "game manager" probably brings back memories of Alex Smith for 49ers fans. The label is being slapped on Garoppolo now. Tight end
George Kittle was asked on Tuesday about the idea that Garoppolo can't win a shootout against someone like his Super Bowl LIV counterpart — Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
"I think we won 48-46 in New Orleans," Kittle responded. "I think that classifies as a shootout. He had two back-to-back 3rd-and-16s to beat the Rams. I think he threw the ball pretty well against Seattle to clinch home-field advantage.
"So yeah, people can keep doubting him, I guess. I'm not going to. I don't bet against really good players."
Andy Reid isn't betting against Garoppolo either. The Chiefs head coach knows what the 49ers quarterback is capable of doing in a game.
"Jimmy's percentages, the passer rating over the last couple of years here, it's up there, in really every situation," Reid said. "So as well as they run the football, and as well as they make you honor every gap, every zone on the field, you can't slight the pass game either."
Kittle hopes to haul in a good amount of passes from Garoppolo on Sunday and help the 49ers emerge as Super Bowl champions. Actually, he's probably more looking forward to opening up lanes for his running backs because the tight end loves to block. Still, he, like his teammates, can't understand the negative narrative about Garoppolo.
"He's done nothing except for show up every single time we've asked him to," Kittle added. "I think he's 21-5 as a starter in the NFL. I think that's OK, as well. I don't know how you be much better than that.
"So, I think all he's done is play good football, and he just keeps doing it week in and week out."
Trevor Sikkema of Pro Football Focus unveiled a seven-round mock draft for the San Francisco 49ers, addressing several key needs for the team in the 10-pick projection. Interestingly, the mock draft sees the team adding two legacy players. But before delving into that, let's examine the first three selections.
Sikkema has the 49ers shoring up their offensive line at pick No. 31 with the selection of former Arizona offensive tackle Jordan Morgan.
Morgan allowed 14 pressures and two sacks in his 477 pass-blocking snaps at left tackle in 2023. He earned an impressive pass-blocking grade of 87.3 and an overall grade of
The upcoming NFL Draft holds special significance for the San Francisco 49ers, with ties to several familiar faces from the team's past. A handful of legacy players hope to make their mark, possibly receiving a life-changing call from 49ers general manager John Lynch.
Brenden Rice, son of Hall of Fame receiver Jerry Rice, is one such player. The former USC wideout is projected to be a fourth-round draft pick and had the opportunity to meet with the 49ers at the NFL Scouting Combine.
When asked about the possibility of joining his father's former team, Brenden confidently expressed, "Honestly, I just
The San Francisco 49ers announced the signing of wide receiver Trent Taylor to a one-year deal, reuniting with the team's former fifth-round draft pick out of Louisiana Tech.
Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area was the first to report that the 49ers were discussing a potential reunion with Taylor. The receiver was part of head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch's first draft class in 2017 and spent his first four NFL seasons with the team.
The #49ers are talking with free-agent slot receiver/return man
The San Francisco 49ers are hosting several draft prospects this week as the deadline for pre-draft visits draws near. According to Aaron Wilson of KPRC2, the team will host former Western Kentucky wide receiver Malachi Corley on Wednesday.
Corley is expected to be a Day 2 pick. San Francisco owns two selections on Day 2—the No. 63 overall pick in the second round and the No. 94 overall pick in the third round. Currently, the receiver is visiting with the Seattle Seahawks.
Western Kentucky @WKUFootball receiver Malachi Worley
