On Thursday, San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel took to social media to defend his quarterback, Jimmy Garoppolo, from critics. Garoppolo is one of the last four starting quarterbacks still preparing to play a game. This weekend, his Niners will travel to Southern California to face the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Championship Game.

Many within the media have created the narrative that the talented 49ers have carried Garoppolo to this point, that the team is winning despite Garoppolo and not because of him. Samuel told Garoppolo's critics to check the only statistic he cares about—wins and losses.


Before Thursday's practice, head coach Kyle Shanahan was asked about his players sticking up for their quarterback and what that says about Garoppolo as a leader.

"It shows what our guys think of him," Shanahan responded. "And it also shows that our guys are probably on social media because they probably feel a need to stick up for him. So, social media probably hasn't been that great. I'm glad they're sticking up for him because what they say is the truth.



"Jimmy is one of the main reasons we're here. He's done an unbelievable job. People don't give him enough credit. Yeah, we win as a team. That's why he hasn't always had some of the same stats as some of these MVP candidates have and stuff, but Jimmy's a very good quarterback, and he doesn't worry about any of that stuff.

"He doesn't worry about social media. That's why he's a little similar to me. He probably doesn't have as much of an idea of that stuff. And he never really changes, and I think that's what people respect the most about him. I mean, he's gone through some ups and downs while he's been here, like most quarterbacks do, but he's the same guy. And that's why people, first and foremost, respect him as a human, as a person.

"And then the way that he goes and battles on the field; everyone knows how tough he is, everyone knows how hard he'll compete running with the ball, and our guys also know he can throw pretty well too."

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