Jimmy Garoppolo has thought about requesting a trade. He considered virtually every option since the 49ers traded up in the 2021 NFL Draft and then selected quarterback Trey Lance. But for now, Garoppolo is still focused on being a 49er, and is taking part in optional organized team activities.
“When it initially happened, there’s a million emotions that go on throughout your head and you think of all the possible scenarios and things like that,” he told reporters, when asked about a potential trade.
“But at the end of the day, I want to play football. I want to go out there and win games. That’s what I do. And so it wasn’t anything too crazy. It took a little while to process everything. But once I did, it was just, ‘Go out there and ball.’ You got to go out and attack it. The NFL is a crazy business. Things happen, but you have to attack it day by day. And make the best of it.”
Garoppolo may well be the 49ers starter this year. Lance, out of North Dakota State of the Football College Subdivision, could use time to develop and learn the NFL game. Meanwhile, Garoppolo is hoping to rebound from playing in just six games last year, and to prove himself after hearing so much criticism about his shortcomings despite owning a 22-8 record as the 49ers starting quarterback.
“Being in the NFL for as long as I have, you kind of get used to it,” Garoppolo said. “It kind of comes with the job. It’s one of those things that it keeps pushing you, though.
“When you hear those critiques and you hear those little things out there, it pushes you to take your game to the next level. We’re all competitors out there. We all want to go (play) the perfect game, and at the end of the day, that’s what we’re trying to do. I’ll keep pushing myself.”