Jimmy Garropolo May Have Taken Last Snap With 49ers, Rival Exec Suggests

It may be the end of Jimmy Garoppolo's tenure with the San Francisco 49ers. At least, that's the opinion of one opposing NFL executive.

"I think he may be done in San Francisco," the anonymous executive told Mike Sando of The Athletic. "And if they keep him, it's only because they don't have another option."

The 49ers acquired Garoppolo in a trade with the New England Patriots in 2017. Last season, he led the Niners to the Super Bowl, and had it not been for a masterful performance from Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes, the Niners would have won.

Things have been different this season.

Garoppolo has been battling a badly sprained ankle. His play has been rickety when healthy. Forget the Super Bowl, the 49ers have won just four of their first nine games, and now a playoff berth is in doubt.

There has even been some talk that San Francisco is interested in (gasp!) struggling New York Jets quarterback Sam Darnold.

Now, if that turns out to be the 49ers' best option, perhaps they give Garoppolo another shot. He is usually pretty good when entirely healthy. Garoppolo's ankle injury won't require surgery, and there's a chance he could return late in the season. If so, he will probably need to make the most of it.

But this has not been his year, and the sides could part ways rather easily after the season. If San Francisco were to cut him, they would need to take on only $2.8 million in dead space under the salary cap.

The exec may turn out to be right. We may have seen the last of Garoppolo in San Francisco.