Jimmy Garoppolo, 49ers get sentimental at Vegas reunion — to an extent
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (10) throws during practice at an NFL football training camp Saturday, July 29, 2023, in Henderson, Nev.HENDERSON, NEVADA – Fred Warner referred to Jimmy Garoppolo as “my guy.” Christian McCaffrey said Garoppolo owes him a “big hug.” Brock Purdy was pleased to see “good ol’ Jim.”
Gawking at Garoppolo in a Raiders uniform against his former 49ers teammates tapped into an emotional vein Thursday, the first of two days of joint practices before the preseason opener in Las Vegas on Sunday.
As grateful as everyone was for Garoppolo’s five and a half years with the 49ers, a sense of resentment lingered in the background.
Garoppolo can truly say, “I treasure those times” and “those are my brothers, I love those guys.” Coach Kyle Shanahan believes “he was the best quarterback here in about 20 years, since Steve Young.”
Big picture: The 49ers did not win their sixth Lombardi Trophy, and Garoppolo did not keep his job despite being paid more than $121 million. Starting with Trey Lance’s arrival as the No. 3 draft pick in 2021 and eventually ending with Brock Purdy’s storybook ascension to the QB1 throne after replacing an injured Garoppolo for last season’s playoff push, a divorce was unavoidable.
Garoppolo was the franchise’s movie star, as he is now for the Raiders. Whatever resentment he feels about his 49ers departure, Garoppolo internalizes it like any other career criticism for self-motivation.
“It’s in there somewhere.” Yes, it’s included. “Everyone has their own way of dealing with things,” Garoppolo explained. “Some people prefer to express themselves verbally. Some people prefer to keep it to themselves and let their play speak for itself. That’s how I’ve always been, and I’m not about to change.”
That demeanor endeared him to former 49ers teammates, and several, including Purdy, Warner, and general manager John Lynch, checked in with him at Thursday’s reunion. During the two-hour practice, Shanahan did not approach Garoppolo, saying, “I would have liked to, but they’re on a different field.” I didn’t speak with any of their offensive players.”
Garoppolo performed admirably, highlighted by his final touchdown pass to tight end Austin Hooper, beating the coverage of Oren Burks and Talanoa Hufanga.
Garoppolo was sacked on his final play for the 49ers eight months ago, but only after dragging two Miami Dolphins defenders back into field-goal range and suffering a fractured foot in the process. Rather than being placed on injured reserve, Garoppolo rehabbed in the background, never returning to practice but maintaining hope of a comeback if the 49ers won the Super Bowl.
“It was crazy, man. “I was doing my thing, trying to get my foot ready, and it didn’t go as planned,” Garoppolo said. “But those guys, going through three quarterbacks and still making it to the NFC Championship Game, I mean, that’s damn impressive for a team.”
If the 49ers won the Super Bowl, Shanahan would turn to Philip Rivers, who was in his second year of retirement after 18 seasons with the Chargers and one with the Colts.
“He was prepared to,” Shanahan said of Rivers’ return. “That was something we talked about all year.” We’d have to see how that worked out for the Super Bowl, but that was the plan for the majority of the year.”
When that information was relayed to some 49ers on Thursday, it was news – and a moot point. “The past is the past,” McCaffrey said. From now on, I’m only concerned with this year.” “We didn’t go to the Super Bowl,” Warner added, “so it doesn’t matter.”
The 49ers did reach that point four seasons ago, when Garoppolo started every game.
Shanahan took issue with the notion that he crudely severed ties with Garoppolo, which stems from the coach saying at the end of the season that he couldn’t see Garoppolo returning.
“That was overblown on trying to be a shot at him or anything,” Shanahan said. “We knew Jimmy wasn’t coming back on his and our terms, financially and otherwise.” That was just the obvious answer.”
Shanahan then explained why he considers Garoppolo’s “legacy” to be “unbelievable.”
“He was the best quarterback here in about 20 years, since Steve Young,” said Shanahan, who was a ballboy on Young’s 1992-94 teams. “He has an incredible record, and whenever he played and stayed healthy, we were either in the Super Bowl or the NFC Championship Game.” So I hope no one thinks I’ve ever said otherwise.”
Garoppolo summarized his “choice” to postpone foot surgery in the hopes of extending his 49ers career in a Super Bowl on Thursday, saying, “Whatever.” Everything is in the past. Things worked out as they did. “I’m pleased with how everything turned out.”
Prior to practice, Raiders coach Josh McDaniels tried to downplay the Garoppolo-49ers reunion, saying, “I’m not going to overdramatize the moment.” He’ll get a few reps today, as will the other guys. It’s another team’s training camp practice.”
Garoppolo was not just another quarterback for the 49ers. As their starter, he went 38-17 with a 4-2 playoff record. He unwittingly groomed Purdy on how to be a model pro, how to act in the locker room, how to call plays crisply in the huddle, how to read through on-field progressions, how to timely get off passes, and how to “just do what coach asks and be successful in that regard.”
“He did a lot of great things here, and in my little time that I had with him this past season, there was a lot for me to learn, and it was a blessing,” Purdy said.
Garoppolo, in turn, discovered something about Purdy that 49ers fans are discovering as well.
“Brock is a cool dude, on and off the field,” said Garoppolo. “As a rookie, he was relatively quiet at first. But he began to open up toward the end, especially when he began to play. We talked a little bit out there today. He seemed to be doing well.”
