Trey Lance took four snaps on Sunday against the Detroit Lions. One of those snaps featured the rookie quarterback's only pass and his first touchdown pass — a five-yard strike to wide receiver Trent Sherfield. Lance had replaced starter Jimmy Garoppolo on the drive. Maybe Garoppolo would have added that touchdown to his stats had he remained in the game.
What was the veteran's reaction to seeing his eventual successor throw his first NFL touchdown? Garoppolo was among the first to celebrate with Lance on the sideline after the play.
During the broadcast, Mark Sanchez, one of the FOX announcers calling the game, commented on the potential awkwardness of celebrating your young successor's accomplishment.
"That's not an easy hug to give," Sanchez said while giving Garoppolo a lot of credit for the way he's handled the whole situation in Santa Clara.
Garoppolo joined KNBR's Murph & Mac show this morning and was asked about Sanchez's comment, and the 49ers quarterback offered an honest response.
"He's not wrong," Garoppolo said with a laugh. "No, [it's an] it-is-what-it-is type of situation. It's one of those [situations where] we had a good drive, marched down there, Kyle called the package, and he's the head coach, so whatever he calls, goes.
"It's just one of those things that you can only control what you can control. And I'm out there with my boys, making the best of it, having a good time. And at the end of the day, we're playing football, trying to get a win. So, whatever it takes. But it is what it is, you know?"
Garoppolo ended up having a pretty good game. He completed 17 of his 25 pass attempts for 314 yards and a touchdown.
Hosts Brian Murphy and Paul McCaffrey were pleasantly surprised by the quarterback's honestly in sharing his thoughts.
"It's kind of one of those situations that I know the guys in the locker room, they know me, and I know where I stand with them," Garoppolo said. "At the end of the day, that's what really matters. As long as those guys got my back, I've got no problem doing whatever it takes to win.
"This league, it's crazy how things happen. You've just got to roll with the punches, kinda, and let the chips fall as they may at the end. And we'll see where everything is at the end."
You can listen to the entire conversation with Garoppolo below.
