Jimmy Garoppolo was an observer when his San Francisco 49ers faced the Philadelphia Eagles during January's NFC Championship Game. The veteran quarterback was still recovering from a broken foot. There was hope that, had the Niners made it to the Super Bowl, Garoppolo might be able to suit up as Brock Purdy's backup.
Garoppolo suffered a broken foot during Week 13, opening the door for Purdy, a rookie, to take over.
The veteran quarterback never got an opportunity to suit up in red and gold again because Purdy suffered a torn ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in his right elbow in the NFC title game's opening moments. Later, his backup, Josh Johnson, exited with a concussion. All Garoppolo could do was watch as his Niners struggled to play without being able to throw the football.
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That ended Garoppolo's time with the 49ers. He signed with the Las Vegas Raiders in free agency and faced his former team in a joint practice on Thursday. The quarterback spoke with Las Vegas and Bay Area reporters after the scrimmage and was asked to reflect on how things ended last season.
"It was wild," Garoppolo said. "I was doing my thing, trying to get my foot ready. That didn't work out how I wished it would have. But those guys, going through three quarterbacks and still making it to the NFC Championship Game, that's damn impressive for a team.
"I know the Niners, they got a great team and everything. We had a great time. It's on to Vegas now. But, yeah, I treasure those times. Those are good times."
Maybe things would have turned out differently for the 49ers had Garoppolo been able to suit up against the Eagles. After all, there was hope that he could. Garoppolo might have pushed himself too hard to return, though, prolonging his recovery and leading to offseason surgery on the foot.
"It was my choosing," Garoppolo said. "I wanted to do that because I knew if something like that championship game did happen, I wanted to be out there. Whatever. It's all in the past now. Things worked out the way they did, and I'm happy with how it all worked out."
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The 49ers players were happy to see Garoppolo again. He was a popular figure in the locker room.
"Some guys are just natural-born leaders," linebacker Fred Warner said on Thursday. "You either got it or you don't. And with him, he was a natural-born leader through and through. His competitive edge, every time he stepped out there, you knew he was always going to give us a chance. Just seeing him and his poise out there, he was just a leader through and through, and I respect him a lot, and I'm grateful for him, for everything he brought to our team."
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