Joe Montana still clings to 49ers keeping (and starting) Jimmy Garoppolo

The 49ers aren’t likely to retain Jimmy Garoppolo in 2023, but Joe Montana not only thinks they should keep him but start him, too.

It’s not the first time Hall of Fame legend Joe Montana has thought the San Francisco 49ers are better off with quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo under center than anyone else available.

And it might not be the last either.

Look, Montana is the greatest quarterback in Niners history, and some are still holding onto the idea that he’s the GOAT, not just-retired signal-caller Tom Brady.

So, we don’t need to slander Montana for his latest take on San Francisco’s evolving quarterback situation heading into 2023.

But we could ask the Hall of Famer to live in reality a bit, right?

Joe Montana feels 49ers are best off starting Jimmy Garoppolo in 2023, not Trey Lance nor Brock Purdy

Speaking with the San Francisco Chronicle’s Mike Silver, Montana revealed who he thought should start for the 49ers this upcoming season.

The answer? Not either one of the two quarterbacks who are actually under contract with the Niners in 2023, Trey Lance and Brock Purdy.

No, Garoppolo.

“I start Jimmy,” Montana said. “He has won a lot of games. I can’t say the same for Trey. You don’t know that with him.”

In fairness, Lance has only four NFL starts and hasn’t played as a starter for a full season since his 2019 collegiate campaign at North Dakota State.

Purdy, meanwhile, helped the Niners’ red-hot streak down the stretch of the 2022 season after Garoppolo suffered what ended up being a season-ending foot injury in Week 13.

Despite what San Francisco gave up for Lance and what Purdy did down the stretch, Montana seems sold on Garoppolo.

Is it realistic, though?

Why would Jimmy Garoppolo return to 49ers anyway?

It’d be one thing if Garoppolo was still under contract, but he’ll be a free agent this offseason. And, when the 49ers redid his contract for 2022, a special provision was put in that prevents them from applying the franchise tag on him.

Alas, Garoppolo could command more than $30 million on an annual basis, and that’s money the Niners probably don’t want to pay out when they have both Lance and Purdy making little more than $10 million combined.

No, that kind of money will be better used elsewhere. Even head coach Kyle Shanahan admitted that he doesn’t envision Jimmy G returning under any circumstances.

Related Story: Jimmy Garoppolo headlines list of notable 49ers free agents

From Garoppolo’s standpoint, why would he want a reunion with San Francisco after the awkwardness that has surrounded him the last two seasons, first in the wake of the trade-up for Lance, then amid last offseason’s talk of trades?

Instead, Garoppolo’s camp is likely to seek employment where there won’t be a legitimate challenge for the QB1 role like there is with the 49ers right now.

Perhaps Montana, who had to look over his shoulder at fellow Hall of Famer Steve Young for some time, should understand that part of the business, too.