Cris Collinsworth wasn’t a fan of the 49ers’ plans to trade quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo in the offseason.
Ahead of the 49ers’ primetime matchup against the Chargers on “Sunday Night Football,” the longtime analyst sang Garoppolo’s praises amid a unique year in San Francisco, which saw the 31-year-old quarterback remain with the team on a reworked one-year deal and replace injured starter Trey Lance in Week 2.
“When people asked me about it in the beginning, I was like, ‘Why would you trade Jimmy Garoppolo?’ This year I think they’re sitting on a heck of a team,” Collinsworth said on a recent episode of “49ers Talk.”
“And if something happens, like it did to Trey, then you’re going to need somebody to go.”
Garoppolo, who has been with the 49ers since 2017, was all but out the door following the team’s NFC Championship loss to the Rams in January, paving the way for Lance — the third overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft — to take the reins.
As the offseason came and went, a trade partner for the 49ers never materialized and Garoppolo — who underwent shoulder surgery in March — inked a new deal with San Francisco to serve as Lance’s backup.
But when Lance suffered a season-ending ankle injury in Week 2, Garoppolo returned to the role of QB1 and has helped lead San Francisco to a 5-4 record, including Sunday’s win over Los Angeles.
Collinsworth believes Garoppolo can take the 49ers “anywhere they want to go.”
“Could Jimmy go to any system and be All-Pro? I don’t know. But I know he can take this team anywhere they want to go,” he said. “Can they win a Super Bowl with Jimmy Garoppolo? Absolutely, they can. Absolutely, they can.”
Through eight games this season, Garoppolo has thrown for 1,931 yards, 11 touchdowns and four interceptions. And with former Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey now fully entrenched in the 49ers’ offense, it’s possible Garoppolo and company could make another postseason run.
The 49ers will face the Cardinals next Monday in Mexico City.