Following a nearly 18-minute Zoom media session Tuesday, San Francisco 49ers (as of now) quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo looked into the camera and delivered what could only be construed as a farewell: “It’s been a hell of a ride. I love you guys. See ya.”
On that note, Garoppolo got up from his seat and walked away—literally and most likely figuratively.
It wasn’t surprising, as GM John Lynch and coach Kyle Shanahan earlier avoided questions about Jimmy G’s future with the team.
“If we knew exactly what was happening, we would have told Jimmy,” Shanahan said after the team’s playoff loss. “But this season just ended and we’ve got a great, young quarterback who was a rookie and we have a great quarterback here who is a veteran … I’ve got the ultimate respect for Jimmy and I’m very excited about Trey. That’s where we’re at right now.
“So, we’re in a situation where we’ve got to make some tough decisions that won’t be easy. But I’m happy about that. That means you’ve got the best scenario going and that’s why we’ve got to put a lot of thought into this. And Jimmy will know everything as we go.”
Garoppolo expects to be traded but hopes to have a say in where he lands.
“I was talking to John yesterday about finding the right destination and whatever the future holds, just doing it the right way,” Garoppolo said. “I’ve got a long career ahead of me. I’m excited about it. I’m excited about the opportunities to come. I just want to go to a place where they want to win. That’s really what I’m in this game for. I’m here to play football, win football games and as long as I’ve got that and good people around me, I think the rest will take care of itself.”
“Where” Jimmy G is traded to is the question, “when” is not. At the start of the new league year on March 16, Garoppolo is scheduled to count $26.905 million against San Francisco’s salary cap for 2022; moving him would save $25.505 million.
“As far as the whole trade situation, John [Lynch] has been very clear with it,” Garoppolo said. “I think they’re trying to do the best for me, I’m trying to do the best for them and we’re working together. We haven’t really made too much progress on it, but I think things will start happening here pretty quickly.”
One holdup could be Garoppolo’s right thumb, with which he played the final five games (including playoffs) on a torn ligament suffered in a December 23 loss to the Tennessee Titans. He plans to see a specialist this week about it.
“If I can avoid surgery, that’s really what I’m hoping for, but we’ll see,” Garoppolo said.
