Joe Staley called into the Rich Eisen Show this week and discussed several topics, including his goal to shed some weight. He even gave out his Peloton username, for anyone who wants to challenge him.
The former San Francisco 49ers tackle also discussed the teammates who most impacted him throughout his illustrious career, including running back Frank Gore, who he feels is a no-brainer Hall of Famer.
Then Staley was asked about his former quarterback, Jimmy Garoppolo, who has, perhaps unfairly, shouldered much of the blame for the 49ers' loss in Super Bowl LIV. Adding to the reasons for criticism was head coach Kyle Shanahan's decision to move away from the passing game and rely on the team's No. 2 ranked rushing attack to knock off the Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers in the playoffs.
"Jimmy's been nothing but unbelievable since the day he got in there," Staley told Rich Eisen. "He worked incredibly hard to learn the entire offense. He was put in a position where he was kind of looked at like, 'Hey, you're going to be the savior of the franchise, right now, because we need you to step in.'"
Staley says Garoppolo was a big reason for the 49ers' "unbelievable ride" of a season last year.
"He clearly won multiple games during that regular season for us, just by his own arm and the playmaking ability," he noted.
Staley doesn't believe the plan of attack against the Vikings and Packers was a reflection of doubt surrounding Garoppolo's ability to carry the team. The quarterback had already shown multiple times during the regular season that he could do that.
"We felt the best plan of attack was working," Staley explained. "You go in with a plan of attack, and you adjust. Kyle (Shanahan) is really good at that. But it was working. We were gaining explosive plays left and right."
As for the heartbreaking defeat against the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIV, Staley feels the entire team, not just Garoppolo, would like to have a few plays back.
"I know it's going to be a huge motivating factor for him the entire offseason," Staley said, "and he's going to be really good coming up."
