If Sunday's NFC Championship game loss to the Los Angeles Rams was quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo's last game in a 49ers uniform, he'll at least be heading out the door with positive memories of the team he was a part of in his final season in the Bay Area.
After spending five years with the 49ers following the trade that sent him packing from the New England Patriots in 2017, Garoppolo is likely to play elsewhere next season while the 49ers are expected to move 2021 first-round pick Trey Lance into the starting role. Garoppolo understandably didn't have too much to say about his future in the immediate moments following the 20-17 loss to the Rams, but he admitted that the emotions were starting to hit him afterwards and that he was proud to be part of what the 49ers accomplished this season after battling through months of adversity.
"They hit pretty hard in the locker room," Garoppolo told reporters after the game. "I think these next couple days, it'll really start to settle in a little bit. Emotions are high after a game, win or loss. It's one of those things you've got to be glad it happened, smile from it, and think about the good things.
"We'll see what happens in these next couple of days, weeks, whatever, but I love this team. The fight and the battle in this team throughout the entire year has been really impressive, and I love those guys."
The 49ers started the season 3-5 and were on the verge of being written off before going on a 9-2 run that put them in the NFC Championship game. There were a number of injuries the team had to fight through along the way, including multiple injuries to Garoppolo, but they were able to persevere and put themselves on the doorstep to the Super Bowl before falling just short in the NFC Championship. Garoppolo was one of several 49ers players able to hold their head high on Sunday after looking back on the hurdles the team was able to clear throughout the season.
"I love this team," Garoppolo said. "I've said it before to you guys. But just everything we've been through, starting with the offseason and into training camp, it was a roller coaster of a year. It really was. But we fought through it. We're a resilient team, and that's what good teams do. You fight through things like that and come out better on the other end from it."
Of course, no one on the team went through the same type of adversity Garoppolo faced from a mental perspective. It became obvious in March that Garoppolo's days were numbered with the 49ers once they traded three first-round picks for the ability to move up to the No. 3 overall selection in the 2021 NFL Draft, which was eventually used to select Lance, but they chose to keep Garoppolo on the roster for another season instead of handing the job over to Lance as a rookie. Questions over whether or not the 49ers should bench Garoppolo persisted for much of the season and occasionally resurfaced when he didn't play well or got injured, but he stayed professional throughout and remained in command of the offense, eventually putting together enough on the field to help the 49ers go on their playoff run.
Garoppolo was asked after the loss on Sunday how he was able to keep his composure throughout the year given the situation he faced and genuinely seemed to be at a loss when trying to give an answer.
"I don't know. I don't know," Garoppolo said. "A lot of good people around me, a lot of good people in this organization, players, just people in general. Just surround yourself with good people and good things will take care of themselves."
49ers players have been effusive in their praise for Garoppolo throughout the season and continued to be on Sunday when asked to look back at how he dealt with the situation at hand. Among them was offensive tackle Trent Williams, who spent portions of the last two seasons blocking for Garoppolo after being traded to the 49ers from the Washington Football Team in 2020.
"I think he handled the season amazingly," Williams said. "Nobody wants to be in the position he was put in. But you couldn't tell. Jimmy is a class act. He handled himself professionally every day. I'm proud of him, man. He's a brother for life."
Wide receiver Deebo Samuel added, "Me personally, I think Jimmy played very well, left it all out there for the team, came back through injury. A lot of guys say Jimmy this, Jimmy that, but this team loves Jimmy to death and we're all behind him."
49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan was obviously instrumental in the team's decision to make Lance its quarterback of the future, but he's also been in Garoppolo's corner throughout the 2021 season. He wasn't ready to say his goodbyes on Sunday but gave one last thumbs-up to how Garoppolo played in his likely final game with the franchise.
"I love Jimmy," Shanahan said. "I'm not going to sit here and make a farewell statement or anything right now. That's the last stuff on my mind. But Jimmy has battled his ass off. He battled today. He did some unbelievable things today, and I love coaching Jimmy."
It's very possible the 49ers will try to make a decision on Garoppolo sooner rather than later in order to get out in front of any quarterback movement that may occur around the NFL once free agency arrives, but for now, it remains anyone's guess where he'll play once the upcoming season begins. Chances are whatever team lands his services won't leave him with memories as positive as the ones he got from being a part of the 2021 San Francisco 49ers.
"It's very unique," Garoppolo said. "I'm sure every team kind of says that a little bit, but when you meet these guys and get to know them, love them like brothers, it's a great group. Loved being with them every day, battling, fighting, going to war with these guys, it was a fun year."