Could Jimmy Garoppolo Be More Than Trey Lance’s Backup?

This gives the 49ers an incredible backup QB, not to mention a wonderful insurance plan in case things go south with Lance.

But rumor has it that isn’t the only reason coach Kyle Shanahan and owner Jed York decided to keep Garoppolo around.

“This is a hedge, plain and simple,” Michael Silver of the San Francisco Chronicle wrote about the Garoppolo deal. “And the reason the 49ers are hedging is because they’re worried that Lance, for all his promise, won’t be good enough to get their built-to-win-now team to its only acceptable destination — Glendale, Ariz., next February 12, with York hoisting the franchise’s sixth Lombardi Trophy.”

For All His Potential, Lance Does Need A Safety Net

There is every chance Lance will become the NFL’s next great QB, but the realities of being a young signal-caller in this league are evident.

No one has ever fully matured without some growing pains, and Lance will assuredly go through his own at some point.

Besides a bad game here and there, he could have a stretch where he plays ugly football and loses some confidence.

If that happens, Shanahan could go back to Garoppolo under center, at least for a little while, until Lance works out his issues.

If that’s what happens at some point, the 49ers will still be in good hands.

Perhaps Garoppolo isn’t capable of taking his team all the way to a world championship as a starter, but he has proven he can get his team in position to at least have a chance.

Under his guidance, San Francisco has been to the NFC Championship Game twice in the last three years, and he took it to Super Bowl LIV in the winter of 2020.

Garoppolo will at least keep the team afloat should something bad happen to Lance this season, and his 98.9 career passer rating should inspire confidence in the team’s fan base should that scenario play out.