Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
49ers great Jerry Rice shares why QB transitions can be challenging for players
Oct 21, 2021 at 9:01 AM
•
Videos are auto-populated by an affiliate. This site has no control over the videos that appear above.
NFL legend Jerry Rice has witnessed a San Francisco 49ers quarterback transition before — but on a much grander scale. For him, it was watching one future Hall of Fame quarterback succeed another future Hall of Fame quarterback.
There is yet another transition taking place in Santa Clara, this time from Jimmy Garoppolo, a quarterback who helped guide the 49ers to a Super Bowl just two seasons ago, to rookie Trey Lance. The topic has been discussed at length. When should it happen? How should it happen?
Most of the quarterback discussion is done with an outside perspective. This week, Rice joined the
49ers Talk podcast to share the behind-the-scenes perspective and what a quarterback transition is like for players.
"It's kind of hard to really compare the two [transitions] because Joe [Montana], he was at the top of his game," Rice told Laura Britt. "Then, as Joe got older, and this happened to me too, the team wants to go in a different direction. So, here's Steve Young. We could tell there was something going on but as players, you still try to stay focused and just pay attention to detail, and do what you have to do from your position.
"I'm sure the players know what's happening with Jimmy G and also Trey Lance. Now, can this work by committee with both going back and forth with [the] quarterbacks? It happens. You see it all the time in college."
This isn't college, though, where players' careers can be much shorter than at the professional level. There needs to be more consistency in the NFL for teams to create sustained success, and Rice acknowledged that.
"I'm one of those guys, I always felt like you needed to know exactly who that guy is and that you had to build around that guy," Rice added. "You had to do whatever you had to do to make that individual perform at his best on the football field. Now, Kyle Shanahan, he feels he can go back and forth, and he's the coach of the team. But I always wanted to know exactly who was going to be behind center."
You can listen to the entire conversation with Rice below. It begins at about the 36:30 mark.
Facebook Comments
More San Francisco 49ers News
Deebo Samuel and Brock Purdy are why the 49ers can afford to pay Brandon Aiyuk
It's evident that the San Francisco 49ers engaged in long-term financial planning. Much discussion has centered around the feasibility of the team committing significant financial resources to two wide receivers, Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel. Some skeptics question the wisdom of such heavy investment in a single position, especially considering that the 49ers handed Samuel a substantial three-year extension merely two years ago.
Adding complexity to this debate is the impending contract extension for quarterback Brock Purdy, positioning him to become the highest-paid player on the team. He will likely even become one of the NFL's highest-paid players. Where he ranks in average salary will depend upon whether he can replicate the stellar performance of his Pro Bowl 2023
Why ESPN analyst hopes 49ers address O-line in the draft
ESPN analyst Matt Miller watches the San Francisco 49ers differently than other teams. As a 49ers fan, he feels more invested in the team's successes and failures than most analysts.
With the draft nearing, Miller made it clear which direction he believes head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch should take with their first pick. In his ESPN mock draft, a seven-round doozy, the analyst had the 49ers selecting former Arizona offensive lineman Jordan Morgan.
Miller recently joined the 49ers Webzone "No Huddle" podcast, sharing why he adamantly hopes the team addresses the offensive line at the end of the month.
"So I
Rumor: Steelers believe they can acquire 49ers WR Brandon Aiyuk at a bargain
According to Sports Illustrated contributor Noah Strackbein, who writes for "All Steelers" on the network, there's a level of confidence within the Pittsburgh Steelers organization that they can strike a deal for San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk—and at a bargain rate.
"According to a team source, the Steelers and 49ers trade talks are real," Strackbein wrote. "While nothing is imminent, they 'would be surprised if it didn't happen.' But it all comes down to compensation, and Pittsburgh isn't willing to budge much on price."
While it seems unlikely that the 49ers would part ways with Aiyuk for anything less than a first-round draft
George Kittle hopes 49ers offense can 'take another step forward'
George Kittle recently spoke with ESPN during the Masters Tournament in Augusta, Georgia, where he joined other NFL stars for the golfing event. Of course, the conversation shifted toward football, with Laura Rutledge asking Kittle to reflect on the team's 2023 season, its Super Bowl defeat, and the motivation it provides for the upcoming season.
The tight end believes San Francisco maintained a competitive roster this offseason and is gearing up for another run at a championship. He emphasized the importance of maintaining good health and continual improvement for a successful upcoming season.
"Brock Purdy is a fantastic quarterback, and he's only going to get better because he's young," Kittle said. "And we were fortunate enough to be able to keep our entire
