With 1:46 left in Sunday’s NFC Championship against the Los Angeles Rams, Jimmy Garoppolo trotted out from the 49ers sideline with his legacy on the line. The scene felt eerily reminiscent to Super Bowl LIV in 2020, when Jimmy G and the Niners were trailing the Kansas City Chiefs with 2:44 remaining and down by four points.
To that point in the game, the 49ers hadn’t given up a sack, despite All-Pro Trent Williams battling a high ankle sprain against a talented defensive front. In the game’s most pivotal moment, Aaron Donald and the Rams got the push they needed.
Facing a 3rd-and-13 from his own 22, Garoppolo was whirled to the turf and tried to throw a pass to running back JaMychal Hasty in desperation. It bounced off his hands and ended up as an interception by Travin Howard. Matt Stafford kneed the clock to zeroes a few minutes later to send the Rams to the Super Bowl. Jimmy G just sat on the bench, watching the 13-10 defeat in likely his final act as a 49ers uniform.
After the game, coach Kyle Shanahan was in no mood to reflect on the possible end of Garoppolo’s tenure with the 49ers.
“I love Jimmy,” Shanahan said. “I’m not going to sit here and make a farewell statement or anything right now. That’s the last stuff on my mind. But Jimmy has battled his ass off. He battled today. He did some unbelievable things today. I love coaching Jimmy.”
Garoppolo forged a reputation as a winner despite ugly numbers throughout the playoffs. He actually played solid for most of the afternoon, but went 1-for-6 for negative-3 yards and a pick in the pressure-packed final two drives.
The final two drives were absolute disasters for the 49ers, as they also included a delay of game penalty and Brandon Aiyuk was barely set on a crucial 3rd-and-15 with less than seven minutes to play.
Garoppolo’s lone completion on the final two drives actually hurt the Niners, as he flicked Jauan Jennings a pass in the backfield when he wasn’t close to the sideline. Precious time was ticking off the clock when Garoppolo made his desperation heave. The walls finally caved in on Jimmy G, who seemed impenetrable at times throughout these playoffs.
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San Francisco entered Sunday’s contest with so much optimism, fueled by a crowd full of 49ers Faithful. Stafford had to use a silent count throughout the game at his home stadium. But the 49ers let a 10-point, fourth-quarter lead slip away. Just like at Super Bowl LIV.
Garoppolo finished 16-of-30 for 232 yards, two touchdowns and the fateful pick. But it’s the 1-for-6, negative-3 yards, one-pick stat line that 49ers fans will likely hang on to for years.
Jimmy G led the 49ers to two NFC title games and a Super Bowl appearance in five seasons, a 36-15 record and 4-2 mark in the playoffs. But in a game that could ultimately define his legacy, Garoppolo fell short.
He is due to make $26.9 million next season and the 49ers could save $25.5 million by trading or cutting him. After using three first-rounders and a third-round pick to get Trey Lance at No. 3 overall in the draft last year, all the tea leaves say this is the end of an era.
Garoppolo will remain a lightning rod this offseason. Beloved by his teammates and a large sect of 49ers fans, he also carried an army of detractors throughout his San Francisco tenure, which in likelihood succumbed to a bitter coda Sunday at SoFi Stadium.
1-for-6. Negative three yards. One pick. Get used to hearing it attached to Garoppolo’s name.
