SF 49ers: 3 things Jimmy Garoppolo can learn from Tom Brady

No. 3: Jimmy G must be a true SF 49ers ‘leader’

Tom Brady holds his teammates to an awfully high standard. While the atmosphere in Tampa Bay was awfully different from the businesslike model he experienced in New England, Brady still brought that intensity and focus with him to the Buccaneers. As a result, the entire culture changed, and the Bucs went from perennial underachievers to Super Bowl champions.

SF 49ers players don’t shy away from backing Jimmy Garoppolo at all. Tight end George Kittle is one of Jimmy G’s most vocal supporters, yes.

But a recent Niner Noise podcast with The Athletic’s Matt Barrows pointed out something interesting. Barrows noted how Garoppolo fits in as “one of the guys” but doesn’t necessarily stand out as the leader in the locker room. Granted, Barrows admitted Hall of Famer Joe Montana was also in this kind of category, yet Montana delivered in those clutch Super Bowl moments.

Garoppolo hasn’t. At least not yet.

This doesn’t necessarily mean Garoppolo has to get in his players’ faces when they run a wrong route or drop a pass. But it does mean he can hold them to a higher standard, both on the field and during practices.

Those efforts over the course of offseason programs, training camp and the regular season carry enormous weight towards reaching a Super Bowl.