The road back from his season-ending ACL injury last year was long and arduous. Jimmy Garoppolo fought hard to return to the football field, and 16 months after that career setback, the quarterback has his San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LIV competing for the franchise's sixth Vince Lombardi Trophy.
However, it wasn't enough to earn Garoppolo the NFL's AP Comeback Player of the Year award, given to a player who shows perseverance in overcoming adversity from the previous season. The honor was presented to Tennessee Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill, instead.
Tannehill completed 70.3 percent of his passes for 2,742 yards with 22 touchdowns and six interceptions in 2019. The Titans finished 9-7 and won two playoff games before falling to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game.
Garoppolo passed for 3,978 yards, which ranks fourth all-time in franchise history, and threw 27 touchdowns and 13 interceptions with a passer rating of 102.0 en route to a 13-3 record and the 49ers' first playoff appearance since the 2013 season.
"The knee's come a long way; it definitely has," Garoppolo said on Thursday. "I probably haven't thought about it since about halfway through the year. It's just crazy, going through the entire process. I mean, about a year ago, I was learning how to run again."
Garoppolo is 21-5 as the 49ers' starting quarterback, including the team's two playoff victories on the way to Super Bowl LIV against the Chiefs. He is in his sixth NFL season and third with San Francisco after a mid-season trade sent him from the New England Patriots to the 49ers in 2017.
Garoppolo won his first five starts with the 49ers and was awarded a then-record five-year deal worth $137.5 million. He is signed through the 2022 season.
Who will be the 49ers' breakout player in the season's second half?
By David Bonilla
Nov 12
The San Francisco 49ers will need several players to elevate their play in the second half of the season if they hope to keep pace with the Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams in a tight NFC West race. The defense, in particular, must improve after Sunday's disappointing loss...
Does Mac Jones regret signing a multi-year deal with the 49ers?
By David Bonilla
Nov 9
If quarterback Mac Jones had signed a one-year deal with the San Francisco 49ers this past offseason, he might be poised for a big payday in 2026—especially given his strong performance in 2025.
The 49ers fell 42-26 to the Los Angeles Rams at Levi's Stadium on Sunday, but...
49ers land Trent Williams successor in latest 2026 NFL mock draft
By David Bonilla
Nov 8
Jacob Infante of Pro Football and Sports Network (PFSN) released his latest three-round 2026 NFL mock draft, projecting the San Francisco 49ers to address a position many expected them to target this year, but didn't—offensive tackle. In this scenario, head coach Kyle...
49ers' injuries force NFL expert to revise season prediction
By David Bonilla
Nov 12
Before the 2025 NFL season kicked off, NFL.com's Ali Bhanpuri projected the San Francisco 49ers to finish with an 11-6 record, claiming the NFC West's second-best record and earning the No. 5 seed in the NFC playoffs.
Bhanpuri expected a healthier roster and a favorable...