Before the San Francisco 49ers made the trade for quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo last season, it was widely reported and assumed that Kyle Shanahan wanted Kirk Cousins to join him instead. Well, speaking about this on ESPN’s Golic and Wingo radio show, 49ers general manager John Lynch confirmed all the rumors.
“Jimmy, we made the trade, but then there were some days that Kyle Shanahan was like, in mourning, because I think everybody knows his master plan was to have Kirk Cousins come in eventually. I was proud of Kyle, because I think he knew that this was the right thing for our franchise. And he didn’t hesitate. But then, even then, Jimmy had to really prove himself. Kyle, I think was really smart. He didn’t play him right away.”
It’s pretty funny now, in hindsight, that Lynch says Shanahan was “like, in mourning” about having Garoppolo there instead of Cousins, whom he coached in Washington. Obviously we know that Garoppolo came in and did a fantastic job, and that Shanahan is thrilled to have him on board now.
It just goes to show that sometimes our best-laid plans aren’t really what’s best in the long run.
Shanahan and Lynch worked together to do what they both felt was right, even though the coach’s heart was going in a different direction. And at this point, nobody in the organization is upset about the results. In time, it may work out that San Francisco ended up coming out way ahead, especially now that the 49ers have improved their overall roster in free agency and still have the draft to continue that work.