Steve Young is one of the greatest quarterbacks in the history of the NFL — not just the 49ers.
So when he speaks about quarterback play, you should listen. His analysis has proven to be consistently measured, reasonable, and above all, insightful.
That’s why I was stunned when I heard Young say this when he joined me on KNBR this week:
“I don’t want Jimmy [Garoppolo] around for a couple of more months… I want Jimmy around for 10 years.”
B-Y-what now? Over the last few seasons, when Young has talked about Garoppolo, he has not said terribly complimentary things.
So this is a U-turn that puts my “I think I’m beginning to trust Garoppolo” take to shame.
“How can anyone say that the quarterback you saw play on Monday night can’t be here for 10 years?” Young said. “I want him to be here for 10 years because if you have answers at quarterback for 10 years, then you’re in the mix every year, like the Chiefs are every year, like the Bills will be every year.”
Ok. Ok. Ok.
Garoppolo’s recent play has been rock-solid. There’s no denying that. To many — including myself and Young — that’s surprising.
But maybe we pump the brakes on another decade of Jimmy G for the moment.
It might look like it’s in the cards after a win against the Cards, but three games don’t make up for five years.
That said, if Garoppolo can maintain this level of play for the next 11 games, that might do the trick.
It’s easy to forget, because Garoppolo is comically overqualified for the job, but the Niners’ quarterback is, in fact, a backup, who was available to the highest bidder this past offseason.
No one came knocking. And it’s been suggested by a few folks at 4949 Marie P DeBartolo Way that Garoppolo timed his off-season shoulder surgery to ensure that was the case.
In a deeply strange way, Garoppolo placed a big bet on himself this offseason, and part of that bet included staying with the Niners.
It might pay off with a new nine-figure contract in the offseason.
Yes, if Garoppolo keeps this run of crisp play going, plenty of teams are going to come knocking for him this offseason.
The Niners might be one of them, too, despite having Trey Lance in tow and a salary table built around the young quarterback’s rookie contract. It’s paradoxical: if Garoppolo keeps playing this way, the 49ers’ chance of winning the Super Bowl increases, as will the Niners’ desire to keep him in the Bay. All this, while the Niners’ ability to re-sign him diminishes.
This part is worth discussing now, because it’s impossible to say how long Garoppolo’s run of form will continue. Garoppolo making plays with his feet and not turning the ball over could be his new norm — a man truly in control of the Niners’ offense.
He might also be taking advantage of lesser-than teams over the last few weeks.
After all, this is the quarterback that said “Me and Kyle got a ways to go obviously; we are nowhere near perfect, but it’s just moving in the right direction, and we are talking the same language right now, which is good,” this week.
Moving in the right direction?
A ways to go?
Sunday will be Garoppolo’s 60th start for the 49ers. He’s been with the team since 2017. But I suppose it’s good he’s finally speaking the same language as his head coach and offensive play-caller. Better late than never, right?
We’ll find out if Garoppolo is a 10-year option or not over the next seven weeks of the regular season — starting Sunday with the Niners’ game against the Saints (1:25, KTVU-TV).
And then the real test: the postseason and a possible four games where quarterback play has to be on-point.
In all, as many as 11 games.
And if the Niners win that 11th — Super Bowl LVII — then we can have a serious talk about 10 more years of Garoppolo in the Bay.
