San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo could be on the cusp of doing the same thing after a disheartening defeat in Super Bowl LIV, and Young feels the setback could be a source of motivation moving forward.
"When you get there, and you don't get it done, that's — you don't get it done, so you eat that," Young recently told David Lombardi of The Athletic. "And that has to be something that drives you forward."
Despite the fourth-quarter collapse by the quarterback and the 49ers, Garoppolo had an otherwise impressive 2019 campaign. He completed 69.1 percent of his pass attempts for 3,978 yards with 27 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. It was the fourth-best single-season performance by a San Francisco quarterback in franchise history.
Young, by the way, is responsible for two of those better performances while Jeff Garcia's 2000 season leads them all.
Young remembers a conversation he once had with the father of 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan, Mike Shanahan. The latter was the team's offensive coordinator in the years leading to and including Young's Super Bowl season.
"I remember (Kyle's) dad said to me: 'Steve, I'm going to be as aggressive as I possibly can, and I want you to protect me,'" Young said. "That, I think, is the statement Jimmy needs to look for, to get from Kyle: 'Jimmy, I'm going to be as aggressive as I possibly can. I want you to protect me.'"
Young's conversation with Lombardi is part of a more extensive feature that breaks down what the history of 49ers quarterbacks might say about Garoppolo's future. Click here to read that feature over at The Athletic.
More San Francisco 49ers News
-
49ers named best fit for Super Bowl champion CB set to hit free agency
The secondary could be one of several position groups the San Francisco 49ers target this offseason, particularly if they hope to keep pace with the offensive firepower of NFC West rivals like the Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams. In a recent piece for Bleacher Report,... -
49ers restore locker room after Seahawks' Super Bowl LX takeover
The San Francisco 49ers locker room at Levi's Stadium looked a little different during Super Bowl LX — and not in a way 49ers players appreciated. Although the Seattle Seahawks were officially designated as the away team, they were assigned the home locker room and even wore... -
49ers linked to veteran WR with off-field concerns
The San Francisco 49ers are widely expected to address the wide receiver position this offseason as they reshape the roster for 2026. Brandon Aiyuk appears headed out after a rift with the organization, while Jauan Jennings, Kendrick Bourne, and Skyy Moore are all scheduled to... -
Where 49ers QB Brock Purdy landed in PFF's top 101 players of 2025
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy appeared in just nine games during the 2025 NFL season, missing eight contests due to a turf toe injury suffered in Week 1. Still, the former final pick of the 2022 NFL Draft did more than enough to earn recognition from Pro Football...