SANTA CLARA — Quarterback controversy? Nothing to see right here. That’s how Trey Lance and Jimmy Garoppolo performed it after the information broke that Garoppolo, the starter since 2017, would return to the 49ers in any case.
Lance is the starter and Garoppolo is the backup heading into the 49ers’ season opener Sept. 11 towards the host Chicago Bears. The 2 have been convincing final week in making their case about why there received’t be an issue with the place that has outlined a franchise.
They could stay fortunately ever after and there’s an excellent probability all the things might be nice within the locker room, however historical past suggests it received’t be that manner in mainstream and social media.
Media apart, the 49ers’ fan base has a wealthy custom of splitting its allegiance relating to quarterbacks.
When Lance throws a wounded duck or the 49ers lose a sport they have been anticipated to win, 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan is aware of what to anticipate.
“When a quarterback has a foul sport or loses the sport, it’s going to final a complete week till they play once more,” Shanahan stated. “That’s why I don’t understand how anybody may be profitable on this enterprise in the event that they get caught up in that stuff.”
Quarterback controversies, like Tremendous Bowl championships, are part of 49ers historical past. With Lance vs. Garoppolo on deck, listed below are 5 to recollect:
1. Joe Montana vs. Steve Younger (1987-92)
Whereas Shanahan advised Garoppolo the plan was to go along with Lance in 2022, coach Invoice Walsh introduced Steve Younger aboard in 1987 to compete with Joe Montana by fudging the reality. It value the 49ers’ second- and fourth-round draft picks to accumulate Younger, who was 3-16 as a starter with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Buccaneers had drafted Vinny Testaverde No. 1 within the NFL Draft.
In his e book “QB: My Life Behind the Spiral” Younger stated he got here to the 49ers as a result of Walsh advised him Montana had “a second again surgical procedure and he won't return from it.”
At his first minicamp apply, Younger came upon in any other case.
“He’s not harm. In any respect,” Younger stated. Walsh, in line with Younger’s account, merely checked out him with palms upraised as if to say, `I didn’t know.”
Younger’s arrival started a six-year odyssey, with Walsh brazenly pitting the quarterbacks towards one another. Walsh even pulled Montana in favor of Younger from a 36-24 playoff loss to the Minnesota Vikings earlier than the house followers at Candlestick Park after the 1987 season.
Whereas most coaches keep away from the idea of quarterback battle, Walsh seemed proper into the digicam and stated, “Properly, our power is at quarterback, however our downside is we've two, and there’s a quarterback controversy growing and we’re going to have to pick out between Steve Younger and Joe Montana.”
Neither man vented publicly. They performed golf typically, in line with Younger, who stated in an ESPN characteristic “there was by no means a cross phrase between us.”
Mentioned Montana to an area tv interviewer: “We each respect one another’s skill, however we’re mates about it. I've to assist him. He has to assist me.”
Montana received Most Invaluable Participant awards and Tremendous Bowl championships in 1989 and 1990 as Younger restlessly watched from the sideline. When Montana injured his elbow, Younger received the MVP in 1992, and Montana was traded to the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs with Walsh having retired and George Seifert taking on as head coach.
Whereas Younger wrote that each he and Montana resented the best way Walsh dealt with it, he conceded, “What Invoice was pondering is, `I’m going to get one of the best out of Joe Montana and Steve Younger.’ And I’m not so positive he wasn’t proper.”
Younger lastly emerged from Montana’s shadow after beating the Dallas Cowboys within the NFC Championship sport and the San Diego Chargers within the Tremendous Bowl following the 1994 season.
2. Alex Smith vs. Colin Kaepernick (2011-12)
The parable that NFL gamers don’t lose their job to harm was shattered when 49ers’ quarterback Alex Smith sustained a concussion within the eighth sport of the 2012 season and coach Jim Harbaugh changed him with second-year quarterback Colin Kaepernick.
For good.
On the time, the 49ers had a 6-2-1 report beneath Smith and his 104.1 passer ranking was a career-high. The earlier season, Smith had the 49ers a fumbled punt away from a Tremendous Bowl and authored probably the most memorable playoff wins in franchise historical past towards the New Orleans Saints.
On this state of affairs, Smith is Garoppolo and Kaepernick is Lance, given the dynamic run-pass skill by a youthful man. And it wasn’t straightforward for Smith to just accept not getting his job again.
“The one factor I did to lose my job was get a concussion,” Smith stated on the time.
But Smith supported Kaepernick as Younger had supported Montana.
“I feel the largest factor with Alex is he was all the time in my ear, ensuring I used to be seeing the protection,” Kaepernick advised NFL Community. “Did I see the safeties do that? Did I see the rotation? Did I see issues like that. He was simply ensuring I've psychological readability once I step on the sector.”
Kaepernick took the 49ers to Tremendous Bowl XLVII in New Orleans with wins over Inexperienced Bay and Atlanta within the playoffs, dashing for 181 yards and throwing two landing passes towards the Packers. Throughout media day on the Tremendous Bowl, Smith took exception when requested if he needed to see Kaepernick play poorly.
“Why do you play a staff sport? If it”s all about your self, go play golf or tennis,” Smith stated. “I”m not saying all this has been straightforward. It hasn’t. However when you can”t be joyful for a teammate”s success, there”s one thing fallacious with you.”
The 49ers had a livid comeback fall quick in shedding 34-31 to the Ravens, and Smith was dealt to the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs following the season — the identical path Montana adopted after the 49ers opted to stay with Younger.
3. John Brodie vs. Y.A. Tittle (1957-60)
Tittle had been with the 49ers since 1951, a part of the famed Million Greenback Backfield that additionally included halfbacks Hugh McElhenny, Joe Perry and John Henry Johnson. However he was additionally the quarterback when the 49ers blew a house playoff sport at Kezar Stadium towards the Detroit Lions in 1957, shedding 31-27 in a sport through which they led 27-7 within the third quarter.
That was the 12 months the 49ers took Brodie because the third general choice out of Stanford. Brodie, youthful and extra cell, was the long run. The 49ers began Tittle 31 instances over 4 seasons, profitable 18 video games, with Brodie going 9-8 in 17 begins.
The everlasting shift to Brodie got here when coach Crimson Hickey, elevated from assistant coach to move coach in 1959, put in a shotgun offense in 1960 to assist compensate for points on the offensive line. The 49ers first used it in a 30-22 upset of the Baltimore Colts. Brodie was injured throughout that sport, however the 49ers received three of their closing 4 in that system with Brodie because the starter.
The 49ers traded Tittle, 34, to the New York Giants after that season in trade for offensive lineman Lou Cordileone, clearing the best way for Brodie.
4. John Brodie vs. Kilmer, Mira, Spurrier (1961-72)
Kezar Stadium was well-known for boo birds, and Brodie heard his share over the subsequent a number of years as a starter for a franchise that had by no means received a championship.
“When you've got a rookie who hasn’t carried out it earlier than, the narrative’s going to be to place the rookie in and see what you bought,” Shanahan stated. “Should you’ve obtained a man that’s by no means performed earlier than, normally the backup quarterback is all the time the preferred man.”
Billy Kilmer, who later led Washington to a Tremendous Bowl, break up time with Brodie now and again in Hickey’s shotgun, primarily as a runner. George Mira was a second-round draft select of Miami in 1964 and performed by way of 1968. Mira’s declare to fame was throwing a move that Kilmer fumbled, with Minnesota’s Jim Marshall working the fallacious manner for a 49ers security.
Steve Spurrier was a first-round choose in 1967 from Florida and winner of the Heisman Trophy. He spent two years on the identical roster with Brodie and Mira and performed by way of 1974. He was 6-2-1 as an harm alternative in 1972, the 12 months the 49ers and Brodie blew a 28-13 lead and fell 30-28 to Dallas at Candlestick Park within the NFC Championship Sport.
5. Frankie Albert vs. Y.A. Tittle
Albert was a 5-foot-9, 165-pound left-hander out of Stanford and a World Warfare II Navy veteran. He joined the 49ers in 1946 after they have been nonetheless within the All-American Soccer Convention, with the franchise becoming a member of the NFL in 1949. He threw 29 landing passes for the 49ers in 1948 and was credited for being the primary to run a bootleg, the place the quarterback rolls out and hides the ball on his hip after a faux handoff.
Tittle performed three seasons with the Baltimore Colts of the AAFC earlier than becoming a member of the 49ers in 1951, beginning one sport and three in 1952 as a dropback counterpoint to Albert’s ball wizardry.
Albert retired after the 1952 season, performed one season in Canada after which returned to the 49ers as head coach in 1956. He was Tittle’s head coach by way of 1958, additionally a sufferer of the notorious playoff loss to Detroit in 1957.