Getty Jimmy Garoppolo and Kyle Shanahan on August 10, 2019 at Levi's Stadium.
Turns out there’s no animosity between Kyle Shanahan and Jimmy Garoppolo.
After a highly public split from the San Francisco 49ers following the 2022 season, Garoppolo referred to his old team as “my brothers” in a press conference August 10. And on the same day, Shanahan, the Niners’ head coach complimented his former quarterback, invoking a 49ers legend while doing so.
Bad blood? Nah — there only were good words/vibes from the 49ers regarding Jimmy Garoppolo and vice versa.
“I think he was the best quarterback here in about 20 years since Steve Young,” Shanahan told reporters during his media session. “[He] has an unbelievable record and every time he played and stayed healthy we were in the Super Bowl of the NFC Championship game.”
Shanahan and Garoppolo, now the quarterback for the Las Vegas Raiders, reunited during the teams’ joint practices ahead of their preseason contest on August 13 in Sin City. The Raiders won that game 34-7.
When healthy, Garoppolo spearheaded the 49ers’ run to the Super Bowl in the 2019 season and played significant roles in the team’s run to the NFC Championship game in the 2021 and 2022 seasons. Young, meanwhile, won three Super Bowls (two as a backup quarterback), went to seven Pro Bowls and was the last the 49er to win league MVP (1992 and 1994).
Kyle Shanahan Shared ‘Overblown’ Part of Garoppolo
Shanahan also dived into January 2023 statements he made about Garoppolo’s future with the team, the reaction to which he called “overblown.”
“I think Jimmy was unbelievable for us,” Shanahan said. “He won lots of games. I think that was a simple question. Is there a scenario where he’ll be back here next year and I gave a common sense answer – ‘No.’ I think that was a little overblown, on trying to be a shot at him or anything.”
With Garoppolo entering the final season of the five-year, $137.5 million deal he signed in 2018 — and the 49ers having their supposed quarterback of the future, Trey Lance — on the roster, it appeared that Garoppolo’s days in San Francisco were numbered.
“We knew he wasn’t going to be coming back from his standpoint or ours, financially and everything,” Shanahan said.
How Did the 49ers Fare Against Their Former QB on August 10?
Before officially practicing, Garoppolo shared this moment with Brock Purdy, the quarterback who took over for the injured Garoppolo, and led the Niners to the NFC title game, which they lost to the Philadelphia Eagles.
Reunited 🤝
Per David Lombardi of The Athletic, Garoppolo delivered a “sharp” day while sharing the field with his former teammate Brock Purdy.
“Both Brock Purdy and Jimmy Garoppolo sharp to open 11-on-11s against their respective teams’ first-team defenses,” Lombardi posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Yesterday’s theme carries over. Both Brock Purdy and Jimmy Garoppolo sharp to open 11-on-11s against their respective teams’ first-team defenses.
Jakobi Meyers chunk gain for the Raiders. Aiyuk, Samuel and McCaffrey first downs for 49ers
But then there was one highlight on Jimmy G’s end: He hit a former 49er wide receiver for the score.
“Jimmy Garoppolo hits fellow former 49er DeAndre Carter for a TD to cap first red-zone period try,” Lombardi posted. “Out pattern beat Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles.”
Jimmy Garoppolo hits fellow former 49er DeAndre Carter for a TD to cap first red-zone period try. Our pattern beat Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles
And, via Lombardi, Purdy wound up getting picked off twice in the 49ers’ joint practice…with one pick landing into the hands of Bay Area native and Raiders newcomer Marcus Peters.
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49ers’ Kyle Shanahan Invokes Team Legend in Jimmy G. Compliment