In his first full NFL season as a starter, quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo threw for the fourth-most single-season passing yards in franchise history, put up clutch performances in some regular-season nail-biters, and led the team to a division crown and the No. 1 seed in the NFC on the way to a Super Bowl appearance.
That's quite a list of accomplishments. So why is Garoppolo ranked No. 5 on NFL.com's recent list of players under the most pressure in 2020?
Adam Schein wrote that the 49ers' success couldn't be credited entirely to Garoppolo because of how talented the roster is. The NFL.com columnist calls it the "single best roster" in the NFL.
With the 49ers running game dominating opponents, head coach Kyle Shanahan didn't ask much from Garoppolo during the team's first two playoff games. Combine that with the team's fourth-quarter collapse in Super Bowl LIV, a missed throw in the game to wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders, and a flirtation with the idea of bringing in Tom Brady this offseason has led many to wonder if Garoppolo is in the 49ers' long-term plans.
"Don't get it twisted: I'm not a Jimmy G hater," writes Schein. "He played quite well in the 2019 regular season. But he came up short in the postseason, particularly on that infamous overthrow. These Niners are built to make another playoff run, with the talent and coaching to take home the ultimate prize. But at some point, in a huge spot, they'll need the quarterback to make a play. Will he?"
Wide receiver Deebo Samuel on Thursday expressed frustration that many still question his quarterback's ability despite what he accomplished last season. As ESPN's First Take debated whether or not Garoppolo is ready to become an elite quarterback, the receiver responded via Instagram by saying Garoppolo is "already elite."
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