Comment Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo and the San Francisco 49ers have put their expected farewells on hold, possibly until the conclusion of the upcoming season. Instead of being traded by the 49ers as expected, Garoppolo agreed to a reworked contract that clears the way for him to remain with the team as new starter Trey Lance’s backup, multiple people with knowledge of the situation confirmed Monday. The revised deal guarantees Garoppolo $6.5 million for this season, according to one of these people. Contains per-game roster bonuses and playing-time incentives that could push his value close to $16 million. Before the restructuring, Garoppolo was set to make $25.6 million in the final season of his contract. It appeared throughout the offseason that Garoppolo, 30, would be headed to his third NFL team after stints with the New England Patriots and 49ers. The Niners have committed to making Lance their starter in his second NFL season and have given Garoppolo’s representatives permission to seek a trade. The 49ers are giving quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo permission to seek a trade But Garoppolo’s recovery from offseason shoulder surgery, his previously unwieldy salary and moves made by other teams by the time the quarterback was cleared to resume throwing in late June have complicated those efforts. More recently, there has been speculation that the Cleveland Browns might make a deal for Garoppolo. Instead, they decided to use backup Jacoby Brissett as their starter while Deshaun Watson serves an 11-game suspension for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy. Garoppolo was in training camp with the 49ers, but did not participate in practices or team meetings, instead working out on his own while he and the team waited for a trade that never materialized. It remains possible that the Niners could ship Garoppolo elsewhere by Nov. 1, throughout the trade deadline. But his contract contains a no-trade clause that would allow him to veto any proposed deal he doesn’t like. He is eligible for unrestricted free agency after the season, and the contract also contains a provision that prohibits the 49ers from using the franchise player tag on him. Garoppolo held down the Niners’ starting job last season and kept Lance on the sidelines as a rookie, waiting for his opportunity. But it was clear after the 49ers lost to the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Championship Game that the team was very likely to turn to Lance as the starter for the 2022 season. Garoppolo has been capable of winning games during his NFL career. He has made 47 regular-season starts for the Patriots and 49ers, and his teams have won 33 of those games. The Niners went 31-14 in regular season play with Garoppolo as their starter. They played in two of the last three NFC title games, advancing to the Super Bowl in the 2019 season before losing to the Kansas City Chiefs. But some questioned whether the 49ers were winning games because of Garoppolo or in spite of him. He’s made mistakes and thrown 38 interceptions to go with his 71 career touchdown passes. He had 12 interceptions and 20 touchdown passes last season. The 49ers traded up for the No. 3 pick in last year’s NFL draft and used it on Lance over McJones, who helped the Patriots to the playoffs last season as a rookie. Garoppolo has spent 4 1/2 seasons with the 49ers after 3 1/2 seasons as Tom Brady’s assistant with the Patriots. The Patriots traded Garoppolo to the 49ers in October 2017.
