The 49ers' fortunes changed on Sunday with 5:55 left in the game against the Kansas City Chiefs when Garoppolo fell to the ground grasping his left knee after scrambling in an attempt to make a play.
San Francisco's offense was facing a third-and-goal situation from the 20-yard line. Garoppolo ran for a 13-yard gain and attempted to cut back inside rather than safely run out of bounds or even slide. Just like that, the 49ers' season took a drastic turn for the worst.
"I think Jimmy was just trying to be a ballplayer and trying to make a play," tackle Joe Staley said after the game. "He wasn't running out of bounds. He was trying to get some extra yards for his team, and it was just one of those things."
The injury likely takes away the 49ers' franchise quarterback, and with him, their season. Expectations were high heading into 2018. Those hopes have fizzled, and all eyes now look toward 2019 while fans try not to reflect too much on what could have been.
"This is part of the NFL," head coach Kyle Shanahan reminded the media. "We're not the first team this has happened to, so it's next guy up."
The next guy up is second-year quarterback C.J. Beathard, who started five games for San Francisco last year before Garoppolo took the team on an incredible run. Beathard had a chance to speak with Garoppolo before the team left Arrowhead Stadium to board a plane back to the Bay Area.
"I just talked to him in the training room, and told him I'd be praying for him, and I love him," Beathard told reporters. "He told me to lead these guys."