Jimmy Garoppolo is far from a perfect quarterback. His arm strength doesn’t dazzle but he puts zip on the football when he needs to. His decision-making is head-scratching one moment and brilliant the next. For every perfect pass he makes, he seems to make an egregious one. His flaws are the reason why the San Francisco 49ers traded up this past offseason for his replacement. Garoppolo makes his viewers abandon all hope, jump for joy, and (probably) inhale entire packs of cigarettes, sometimes all in the span of a single drive. He's a nitpicker’s dream. Yet, Garoppolo has won 70 percent of his NFL starts.
After the San Francisco 49ers advanced to the NFC Divisional Round this past week, Garoppolo is now 3-1 in the postseason. Let’s not pretend his tenure won't be looked back on as successful. The same reason fans want him benched is why they want him orchestrating a comeback. You never know what you’ll get. However, it’s looking more and more likely that next season, he will not be quarterbacking for the 49ers. So, sit back, shut the hell up, and appreciate the Jimmy Garoppolo Experience for as long as it lasts.
Garoppolo played the entire season with detractors clamoring for his understudy to take the reins. After he got injured against Seattle in Week 4, it looked like critics were going to get their wish. Still, Garoppolo returned and, despite never being 100 percent again, helped the 49ers finish the regular season 7-2 in their last nine games. Some have argued San Francisco wins despite him, but that’s shortsighted. There is no way a football team claims victory without the most important position on the field playing its part. Especially in the modern game where competent quarterback play is a necessity. Garoppolo was fourth this season in Adjusted Net Yards per Pass Attempt (ANY/A), a statistic with a strong correlation to points scored. The only QBs better were Aaron Rodgers, Joe Burrow, Matt Stafford, Kirk Cousins, and Tom Brady. That’s hardly disappointing company.
Yet, for as much credit as Garoppolo gets for being “Just Win Jimmy,” it’s impossible to ignore his shortcomings when he does make mistakes. The 49ers are 7-0 this season (including the playoffs) when Garoppolo doesn’t throw an interception and 3-6 when he does. When he takes care of the ball, San Francisco generally wins. When he doesn’t, it’s Bad News Bears. That’s why the fanbase has done more 180s on Garoppolo than a skateboarder. It’s understandably excruciating to not know which version of Garoppolo will show up. Regardless, he plays winning football even if it’s difficult to quantify.
The reason for Garoppolo’s likely departure at the season's end is the inability of availability. Due to various injuries, Garoppolo has missed 25 games in the four-plus seasons he’s been with the 49ers. Extended absences derailed two seasons and if we’ve learned anything from this year, it’s that San Francisco can maximize a winning window. On Saturday, Garoppolo will be playing with thumb and shoulder injuries, both on his throwing arm. That makes his typically capricious performance even more unpredictable.
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Still, Garoppolo is the right man for the job. The brain trust of Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch says so. It’s interesting how faith has been restored to both Shanahan and Lynch during the 49ers push to the playoffs, but not Garoppolo. The head coach and general manager overcame injuries and uncertainty, proving that they’ve earned the fan base's trust after flipping a 3-5 start on its head. Somehow, that faith isn't extended to Garoppolo, even though he’s earned it. That doesn’t mean he needs to be re-signed next season. It means he should receive credit for helping to turn around what looked like a failed year.
Sure, if Garoppolo could transform from a pumpkin into a carriage, he would. You’d think fans were playing Russian roulette instead of watching him throw a football. He extracts hysteria from his haters and habitués alike. But it’s incredibly hard to find an elite QB. Hopefully, Trey Lance can become that. Until then, Garoppolo is the best option for this team; the head coach trusts him, the front office trusts him, and most importantly his teammates trust him. That doesn’t mean he won’t lose the game on Saturday at Green Bay. Yet, he might also be the reason they upset the No. 1 seed in the NFC. Garoppolo's resume says he puts the 49ers in a better position to win than to lose. If that isn't enough then don’t worry, his time in San Francisco is almost up anyway.
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