Rumor: Niners Starting QB Trey Lance ‘Was a Little Annoyed’ by Jimmy Garoppolo’s New Contract

More drama in the Niners’ QB room.

The San Francisco 49ers’ decision to keep Jimmy Garoppolo reportedly wasn’t too well received by Trey Lance, at least initially according to reports. Via Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer, Lance “was a little annoyed in the immediate aftermath” of Garoppolo signing a restructured deal to stay with the team. After the 49ers lost to the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Championship Game in January, the expectation was Jimmy G would be moved at some point during the offseason.

Jimmy even gave a farewell address to 49ers fans during his end-of-season press conference, signaling the end was inevitable for Jimmy in San Fran.

“Faithful, thank you very much for everything,” he said. “It’s been crazy, man. Just all the comebacks at Levi’s, comebacks on the road, ups and downs, it’s been a hell of a ride, guys. I love you guys. See ya.”

Things got complicated in March when Jimmy Garoppolo had shoulder surgery, a move that was intended to make trading him more difficult.  Jimmy wasn’t fully cleared by doctors until late July. The 49ers gave his agents permission to seek a trade, but nothing panned out on the trade front.

Peter King reported in his Football Morning in America column on Aug. 15 that Garoppolo did “not have a playbook, does not attend quarterback or team meetings and barely knows new quarterbacks coach Brian Griese.”

Per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the 49ers agreed to restructure Garoppolo’s contract by making him the highest-paid backup quarterback in the NFL with a $6.5 million fully guaranteed base salary and the potential to earn $10 million in incentives if he starts.

The 49ers have a 31-14 record in Garoppolo’s 45 regular-season starts since 2017. They reached Super Bowl LIV after the 2019 campaign and the NFC Championship Game last season.

In Trey Lance’s two starts in Jimmy’s absence last season, he went 31-of-52 for 441 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions in those games.

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