The San Francisco 49ers are all about bringing familiar faces back in 2026.
First, it was the reunification with linebacker Dre Greenlaw, then re-signing wide receiver Deebo Samuel. Then, to cap it all off, the Niners engineered a blockbuster trade with the Indianapolis Colts for Pro Bowl defensive tackle DeForest Buckner ahead of the NFL trade deadline.
One might think that'd be enough for San Francisco, at least as far as reunions go. But, for Sports Illustrated's Conor Orr, who put together a list of dream trade proposals leading up to the deadline, the 49ers go just a wee bit further.
And it involves trading away an asset, then going the full reunion route and signing quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo.
Yes, you read that correctly.
Sports Illustrated proposal sends Mac Jones to Eagles, Jimmy Garoppolo to 49ers
One of the names not floating around much up to the deadline is backup quarterback Mac Jones, even though he was the subject of many a trade rumor last offseason in light of his successes in 2025.
No real market for Jones truly developed, but the quarterbacking landscape ahead of the deadline has certainly changed enough to warrant consideration.
In light of the Philadelphia Eagles losing quarterback Jalen Hurts to a scary medical situation, blood clots, Orr suggests Philly as a trade destination for Jones if it doesn't see Hurts as a major part of long-term plans:
Jones will turn 29 before the start of next season. He’ll need a raise over the two-year, $8.5 million contract he’s currently operating under, but Jones’s expertise in the Kyle Shanahan offense makes him an easier pair with a new prospective play-caller, or as a partner for [Sean] Mannion, who coached in the Shanahan-adjacent Matt LaFleur system.
Of course, that'd leave the Niners with a QB2 void behind Brock Purdy. But Orr didn't leave fans hanging there, suggesting Shanahan reunite with his one-time starter, Garoppolo:
This trade, of course, would not occur if the 49ers did not have a backup en route. While this part isn’t a trade, per se, it involves Garoppolo coming back to his former home to backstop Brock Purdy. The 49ers have legitimate title aspirations after starting the season on one of the league’s longest winning streaks and Shanahan enjoyed above replacement-level play from Jones when Purdy was injured last season. Given that he’s needed to play multiple quarterbacks in every season as 49ers head coach, Shanahan would not part ways with an incredible bargain like Jones if he didn’t have someone able to run his system.
Now, wouldn't that be ironic.
True, a few axes would have to be buried for anything of the sort to happen. Garoppolo's departure from San Francisco after 2022 wasn't exactly amicable, and the signal-caller took several potshots at his former employer in the years that followed, as his own career spiraled downward.
There were even rumors Garoppolo was mulling retirement last offseason, although nothing has come of that despite him remaining a free agent deep into 2026.
Both sides would have to smooth that over, of course, and money can go a long way toward healing relationships between player and franchise.
Still, for all intents and purposes, it's pretty hard to envision a scenario where either Jimmy G or the 49ers would want a reunion.
That ship has likely sailed. But it's still fun to think about, especially in light of the Buckner reunion and all the others.
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