3 reasons why 49ers show Jimmy Garoppolo the door in 2022

Perhaps his recent quality play changed the narrative a bit, but Jimmy Garoppolo won’t be back as the 49ers quarterback in 2022, and here’s why.

When quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo and the San Francisco 49ers were struggling earlier this season, it made a world of sense why the Niners would want to move on from him at the soonest practical moment, paving the way for rookie quarterback Trey Lance to take over under center.

And thereby setting the stage for the future.

But San Francisco is winning again, 3-1 over its last four games and right back into the playoff hunt with a 5-5 record entering a crucial Week 12 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings. While Garoppolo hasn’t been the sole reason behind the recent hot streak, he has passed for six touchdowns against only one interception during that span, and he’s also rushed in another two scores, too.

He’s playing much better. It’s obvious.

Yet there’s a growing buzz the 49ers could somehow retain a lame-duck quarterback into 2022, notably during Fox’s broadcast during the Niners’ Week 11 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. And even head coach Kyle Shanahan, speaking to reporters on Wednesday (h/t 49ers Webzone), left the door cracked for a would-be Garoppolo return, if not fully open:

"I think there’s a chance for anything. But I think we’ve made it pretty clear that Trey’s our guy of the future, whenever that will happen. But it’s also nothing against Jimmy that we [drafted] him. We believe Trey will be our guy of the future, and like I said, I think it will be really hard, if Jimmy’s on it, for [Lance] to beat him out right away. So, it’s kind of going like that right now, and I’m not thinking much past that."

Don’t worry, coach. We’ll go ahead and think beyond it for you.

Garoppolo isn’t coming back in 2022. Plain and simple. And there’s more than enough evidence as to why this year will mark Jimmy G’s last in a San Francisco uniform.

Let’s take a look at three such reasons.