Trey Lance is all business. The rookie quarterback is focused on the job at hand with the San Francisco 49ers. Over the next three days, that will involve a rookie minicamp, his first foray to the NFL. Over the offseason and probably for much of his rookie year, Lance will get to know head coach Kyle Shanahan's offense as best he can.
Lance is the quarterback of the future for the 49ers. However, he won't step into that QB1 role until he is ready, until he has a solid grasp of the offense, and can show he can execute it to near perfection.
Jimmy Garoppolo is the leader in the quarterback room right now. It's a room that also consists of Nate Sudfeld, Josh Rosen, Josh Johnson, and now Lance.
Lance spoke with reporters on Friday, after a team walkthrough, and before an afternoon practice. The young quarterback discussed the relationship he has started to forge with Garoppolo, who the rookie will lean on over the next year as he transitions to the NFL.
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"I got to meet [Garoppolo] over the last couple of days, which is awesome," Lance told reporters. "Him and the rest of the quarterbacks in the room, they're awesome -- just awesome personalities and awesome guys to hang around, and obviously, great football players. So I'm just thankful that these guys are the guys that they are."
Garoppolo was the first player to reach out to Lance after the 49ers selected the North Dakota State star No. 3 overall and welcomed the rookie. The two quarterbacks have something in common. Both come from the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS).
"Jimmy actually said that in his first text to me," Lance shared. "Just, it's going to be awesome to have another FCS guy in the room. So, he's another guy who's obviously been in a similar position to me, having been where I am. So, just looking forward to learning as much as I can from him and, like I said, all the rest of the guys in the room."
Garoppolo has been a good leader for the 49ers since the team traded for him in 2017. His teammates hold him in high esteem, and the veteran quarterback is well-liked within the locker room. At some point down the road, it will be Lance's turn to take over as the leader.
"I'm super excited to work with these guys," Lance said. "Obviously, in my position, playing quarterback, I want to be a leader for these guys, be someone that they can lean on, and they can ask questions to regardless of what it is. So, I'm just super looking forward to having our group of guys, those rookies coming in, those first-year guys, and being able to hopefully lead them, and help them out, and get us going in the right direction.
Kirk Larrabee contributed to this article.
