San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan made it pretty clear on Thursday that Jimmy Garoppolo would be his quarterback heading into the 2020 season.
A lot of the blame for the Super Bowl LIV loss has fallen on Garoppolo's shoulders. He didn't do much at the end of the game to defend his case against doubters.
When the 49ers were holding onto a 10-point lead late in the game and needed Garoppolo most, the quarterback didn't come through. He completed just 3 of 11 passes for 36 yards, an interception, and a passer rating of 2.8 in the fourth quarter.
Shanahan felt Garoppolo was close to being the Super Bowl MVP, if not for the team's collapse in the closing minutes.
"We all know we didn't all make those plays at the end," Shanahan said. "We made those plays all year, our whole team. That's one of the reasons we were there. And whenever you don't make those plays in a game like that, first and foremost, the quarterback is going to get attacked, and then usually the play-caller. So we understand that's how it is."
Garoppolo is 23-6 as a starter, including the playoffs. His 3,978 passing yards during the regular season ranks fourth all-time in franchise history.
Shanahan spoke to his quarterback a little bit after the game and this week but knows his players need time to get over the heartbreaking loss. The coach said he feels the same way about Garoppolo now as he felt before Sunday.
"I think Jimmy's one of the main reasons we got to the Super Bowl," Shanahan added. "I think he overcame a lot. This is his first year in his career going through an entire NFL season. He still doesn't have as many starts and stuff as (Cleveland Browns quarterback) Baker Mayfield.
"I think he had a hell of a first year, truly playing the position, especially coming off an ACL (injury), where you have to fight through that a ton as a quarterback, where your rhythm and everything is not there at the beginning of the year.
"For him to be like that and to not let the pressure get to him and improve as the year went, I think it says a ton about Jimmy. I can't tell you how much I loved coaching the guy as a player and a person this year."
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