Jimmy Garoppolo and the San Fransisco 49ers came up just short in Super Bowl LIV after surrendering 21 unanswered fourth-quarter points in a 31-20 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
However, while 49ers fans are no doubt upset, the team's dominance all season long and run to the Super Bowl is even more impressive considering the team went just 4-12 the season prior.
With that being said, it's clear that San Fransisco, Garoppolo and head coach Kyle Shanahan have something special brewing and should be regular contenders for years to come.
4. Garoppolo has proven himself as a winner
Sunday's loss aside, Garoppolo has found ways to win games better than just about everyone in his short career. In 27 games as the starting quarterback for the 49ers, Jimmy G has posted an impressive 21-6. In games without him at the helm, San Fransisco is just 4-20 in the past three seasons.
This is excluding the two games he won for the New England Patriots as a replacement for the suspended Tom Brady prior to being traded to San Fransisco.
He may not be as talented as players like Lamar Jackson or Patrick Mahomes but Garoppolo knows how to win with the best of them.
3. He doesn't have to shoulder the load
Garoppolo had a fantastic season, there's no mistaking that. The sixth-year pro completed 329 of his 476 passes (69.1 percent) for 3,978 yards and 27 touchdowns while only throwing 13 interceptions.
Garoppolo ranked fourth in the NFL in passing accuracy came just shy of throwing for 4,000 yards in his first full season as a starter. Yet, the talented quarterback isn't the focus of the offense. And that's okay.
With 144.1 rushing yards per game, the 49ers' ground game ranked behind only the Baltimore Ravens in the NFL. Even more impressive, San Fransisco's 23 regular-season rushing touchdowns this season was the best mark in the NFL.
Kyle Shanahan's offense is built on running the ball and therefore lessens the tension of having to “do it all” for Garoppolo.
2. Garoppolo has plenty of weapons
Assuming the 49ers decide to re-sign for wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders whom the team traded for in the middle of the season, Jimmy Garoppolo should have a stable of options in the passing game.
Tight end George Kittle is unquestionably the best player at his position and recorded his second-straight 1,000-yard season at just 26 years old.
Sanders is a savvy veteran who can still get it done in the passing game. The former Denver Bronco caught 36 balls for 502 yards and three touchdowns in 10 games with his new team.
Second-round pick Deebo Samuel exploded onto the scene as a rookie in 2019 catching 57 balls for 802 yards and three touchdowns and should continue to improve for San Fransisco.
1. Garoppolo has one hell of a defense behind him
This one is less about Jimmy Garoppolo and more about the team as a whole but it's a lot easier to win games and make it back to the Super Bowl when you have an elite defense.
While the 49ers had one of the better offenses in the league this season, an equally as dominant defense really held down the fort.
The 49ers ranked first in the NFL in passing defense, second in yards allowed per game, fifth in sacks and should be well set up for the future despite some possible turnaround with pending free agents this offseason.
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