Trey Lance became a trending topic last week after the former San Francisco 49ers first-round draft pick—now with the Los Angeles Chargers—started in the Hall of Fame Game against the Detroit Lions. Lance completed 13 of 20 passes for 120 yards and two touchdowns, leading the Chargers to a dominant 34-7 victory.
Of course, it's only one preseason game, and most would caution against drawing significant conclusions from a single exhibition matchup that doesn't count in the standings.
Still, Lance's strong showing sparked chatter on social media, with many fans reflecting on his time with the 49ers—and the significant draft capital the team gave up to select him No. 3 overall in 2021, only to give up on him soon after.
On Monday, head coach Kyle Shanahan was asked if he watched Lance's performance.
"I didn't watch it, but very pleased to see him play well," Shanahan said. "I'm always pulling for Trey. I love Trey."
Unfortunately, things didn't pan out for Lance in San Francisco. He spent just two seasons with the team, attempting only 102 passes before being traded to the Dallas Cowboys in 2023. His time there was just as unremarkable as it was in the Bay Area.
After two seasons in Dallas, Lance signed with the Chargers, where he now works under former 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh, who is now the head coach for Los Angeles.
Lance has completed 56.6% of his passes for 1,063 yards, five touchdowns, and four interceptions in his NFL career. Harbaugh once helped revitalize Alex Smith's career in San Francisco, leaving some to wonder if he can have a similar impact on Lance.
Meanwhile, the 49ers rebounded from their draft misstep by selecting quarterback Brock Purdy with the final pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. Purdy's unexpected rise to stardom ultimately led to Lance's trade to Dallas ahead of the 2023 season.
"I wanted nothing but the best for him, and I know he wanted that for me," Purdy said last month. "But that's just how this business goes and all that. When it did happen, we're about to play our preseason game against the Chargers, and right before the game, they announced it.
"And I didn't really know how to act or what to think. I was just like, man, I hope he can go to Dallas and compete and have a great opportunity."
While Shanahan, Purdy, and others still root for Lance to succeed, some 49ers fans would rather forget the painful draft decision that brought him to the 49ers in the first place.
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