When presented the opportunity to sign Tom Brady this past offseason, general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan at least considered it. They ultimately decided that their then-28-year-old quarterback was a better long-term option than a player who is 14 years older.
ESPN insider Adam Schefter joined KNBR this week and discussed San Francisco's conundrum at quarterback and why the team could go in nearly any direction to find an answer.
"Well, it's a quarterback, and it's a quarterback on a good team," Schefter explained on the Murph & Mac show, "so you're always curious as to how that's going to work out. I think they recognize that Jimmy does have some value, and I don't think it's a foregone conclusion by any stretch of the imagination that they would be moving on."
There could be options this offseason. Whether or not Shanahan feels they are better options is unclear. Matthew Stafford may want out of Detroit. Perhaps Atlanta moves on from its 35-year-old quarterback, Matt Ryan. Sam Darnold could find himself pushed out of New York and replaced by a rookie.
Maybe none of that matters and the 49ers stick with Garoppolo while adding a rookie behind him. Whatever Shanahan chooses, it will be a storyline that dominates the offseason.
"I think that they'll look at Jimmy," Schefter continued. "Jimmy is a viable, certifiable, starting quarterback in this league. They're 22-8 with him as a starter. They're 5-13 without him. So, they've been pretty good with him, and if they were going to move on, I think it would take some sort of compelling option, whatever that would be, and those are not easy to come by. So, I think there's definitely a chance that Jimmy could be back as the quarterback of this team."
You can listen to the entire conversation with Schefter below.
More San Francisco 49ers News
-
Will the 49ers move on from Brock Purdy, Kyle Shanahan? One NFL insider believes they will not
"The season is lost, but the 49ers are still building around coach and QB." Those are the words of The Athletic's Dianna Russini in her latest NFL column, in which she writes that despite the San Francisco 49ers horrid season, the team is sticking to its plan of committing to... -
Why Ron Rivera would be wary of paying 49ers QB Brock Purdy top-market money
The San Francisco 49ers are gearing up to face a pivotal decision in a few weeks. That's when they can start negotiating a contract extension for quarterback Brock Purdy. Despite some lackluster performances this season, the organization remains committed to keeping Purdy for... -
49ers mailbag: What do the 49ers have left in the tank for the last four games? Will SF bring back Robert Saleh? Can Brock Purdy beat good teams?
It's always a big week when the San Francisco 49ers play the Los Angeles Rams. In 2021, the rivalry became even bigger when the 49ers had to win in the season's final week, in Los Angeles, to make it into the playoffs. On Thursday night, the 49ers must win again to keep their... -
No Huddle Podcast: 49ers Head to Miami for the Underachievers Bowl
(Episode 397) — Brian Renick is in solo to preview Sunday's game against the Dolphins, the 49ers playoff chances are not dead yet, both teams being a mystery on offense due to injuries, what to expect from the 49ers offense, score predictions, and more. The audio for...