How would things have been different for the 2020 San Francisco 49ers had Tom Brady been leading the offense instead of Jimmy Garoppolo? According to a new report from NBC Sports Bay Area, acquiring Brady would have been relatively easy, and the 49ers were informed that the future Hall of Fame quarterback sought to join his favorite team growing up.
The 49ers were coming off a Super Bowl loss, and Garoppolo shouldered much of the blame for a fourth-quarter collapse against the Kansas City Chiefs. An injury-plagued season followed, resulting in just six wins for the defending NFC champions. Would Brady have made much of a difference in that scenario? You never know. The team may have looked very different out of the gate with Brady at the helm.
"A source confirms to NBC Sports Bay Area that the 49ers were made aware of Brady's preference and, as is reported in the book, the organization was initially skeptical," reports Matt Maiocco.
That book is "It's Better To Be Feared" by ESPN reporter Seth Wickersham.
"But Shanahan asked each of his offensive assistant coaches to watch all of Brady's pass attempts from the 2019 season and provide their evaluations, Wickersham reports," Maiocco continues. "Shanahan did the same while on vacation with his family in Cabo San Lucas.
"According to the book, the 49ers coaches merely liked Brady's film and concluded that Brady was only marginally better than Garoppolo at that stage of both men's careers."
Had the 49ers been interested, the negotiations with Brady would not have been a challenge. After San Francisco's Super Bowl defeat, Brady reportedly contacted former teammate Wes Welker, the 49ers' wide receivers coach, and said he would love to finish his career in the Bay Area if the team was interested.
"According to the book, Brady wrote down 20 or so elements he desired from his new team," Maiocco reports. "His contract demand was considered reasonable: Two years, $50 million.
"Brady informed Welker that if the 49ers wanted him, there would be 'no free-agency tour, no bidding war, full stop; he would end his career where his love of football began, in scarlet and gold, allowing his parents to drive to (his) games for the first time since the 1990s,' according to the book."
The 49ers opted to stick with Garoppolo, and a year later, drafted his eventual successor, Trey Lance. Brady went on to win yet another Super Bowl, this time with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.