The San Francisco 49ers have finally made the move. Head coach Kyle Shanahan announced on Tuesday that the recently acquired Jimmy Garoppolo will start Sunday’s game against the Chicago Bears.
#49ers Head Coach Kyle Shanahan met with the team’s quarterbacks today and informed them that Jimmy Garoppolo will start this Sunday in Chicago. Shanahan will meet with the media next on Wednesday afternoon. #SFvsCHI pic.twitter.com/JM7BXPwhoH
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) November 28, 2017
Garoppolo, acquired from New England during last month’s trade deadline, took over for an injured C.J. Beathard late in last week’s loss to Seattle. He proceeded to throw a touchdown pass as the game itself came to a conclusion. It was Garoppolo’s first action as a member of the 49ers.
It’s not yet known whether Beathard’s injury led to the quarterback switch. He suffered a knee contusion and hip strain last week.
Either way, this is a move many around the football world have been waiting for. Garoppolo is viewed internally in San Francisco as the team’s franchise quarterback.
Potentially giving him a five-game sample size as the season concludes makes a ton of sense, especially with the two-time champion set to become a free agent following the season.