Ex-Patriots QB Touted as Ideal Fit for 49ers’ Super Bowl Run!

The San Francisco 49ers may once again turn to a former New England Patriots quarterback to bolster their roster for the upcoming 2024 season. Head coach Kyle Shanahan has shown a penchant for quarterbacks who have been under the tutelage of Bill Belichick in recent years.

Shanahan’s admiration for such quarterbacks became evident when the Patriots traded Jimmy Garoppolo to the 49ers midway through the 2017 season. Garoppolo’s tenure with the team extended through the 2022 season, during which he guided the 49ers to a Super Bowl appearance in the 2019 campaign.

Following Garoppolo’s departure to the Las Vegas Raiders last season, Shanahan expressed interest in coaxing Tom Brady out of retirement for a potential Super Bowl run in 2023. There were reports that Shanahan had plans to install Brady as the starter if they could secure his signature.

Despite these efforts, Brady’s return did not materialize, and the 49ers pivoted to Brock Purdy, who led the team to another Super Bowl appearance in February. With Purdy’s backup, Sam Darnold, expected to depart in free agency due to salary cap constraints, the 49ers are in need of a reliable option.

Adam Wells of Bleacher Report suggests that Garoppolo would be the ideal fit for the 49ers in the upcoming season. Shanahan’s actions over the years indicate a readiness to move on from Garoppolo, but the quarterback’s familiarity with Shanahan’s system and his past success with the team make him a compelling option.

Although Garoppolo will miss the first two weeks of the season due to a suspension for violating the league’s policy on performance-enhancing drugs, his ability to operate within Shanahan’s system makes him a valuable asset as a backup. In the event of an injury to Purdy, Garoppolo would offer the 49ers their best chance of contending for a Super Bowl in the upcoming season.