The San Francisco 49ers were fresh off their Super Bowl run when rumors started to swirl about quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo's uncertain future with the team. Although he remains as the starter in San Francisco, there remains speculation about whether or not he is the right man for the job.

Tight end George Kittle has been among Garoppolo's most staunch supporters amid all the rumors this offseason. Fullback Kyle Juszczyk has also made sure to defend his quarterback, via Heavy.com:

“I just think he’s going to continue to grow,” Juszczyk said. “I feel like I’ve been his bodyguard this offseason, sticking up for him to everybody who’s trying to take shots. I think there’s no doubt that he’s just going to continue to improve. It’s his first season as a full-year starter, and he led us to a Super Bowl, had some incredible games.”

There is no question that the recipe for success in San Francisco was their dominant defense that was complemented by an explosive run game on offense. Meanwhile, Garoppolo had largely filled the role of game manager before capping off the year with his underwhelming performance in the Super Bowl. As a result, there had been plenty of speculation regarding their interest in former New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady this offseason.

The fact that Garoppolo's teammates have made sure to come to bat for him is telling of how respected he is in the locker room. It could also be a strong indicator of why the team opted to relent on pursing any potential changes under center. Regardless, he will need to show that he is more than capable of taking over when the team needs it most if he hopes to dispel the notion of being the weak link on this championship-caliber team.