Sometimes it’s hard to imagine 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo as “fiery” with the bland face[caption he presents to the media. But his teammates get a different version, particularly on game day.
“Jimmy is honestly different than most quarterbacks that I’ve been with because he’s so passionate and fiery,” 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk said after Garoppolo led the team to a winning field goal to beat the Titans 25-23 at Levi’s Stadium. “You don’t see that a lot from quarterbacks. He’s out there pumping us up and keeping us locked in on the sidelines. He does a great job of that.”
While the Titans were driving to kick a go-ahead field goal with 1:07 left in the game, Garoppolo was working the team’s sidelines like an insurance agent at a mixer.
“Before the last drive, he came up to each and every one of us and said to stay locked in because we might need to do this one more time,” Juszczyk said..”We were all counting on the defense to get a stop, but he said to not sleep and stay locked in because we might need one more.”
Players can talk all they want, but if they don’t deliver, their leadership can seem empty. Once Garoppolo took over for the final drive, he cut up the Titans defense with stunning alacrity. His best throw might have been a 24-yarder to rookie tight end George Kittle.
“I was just open. I looked around and said ‘Hey, this is cool.’ It was really fun.” Kittle said. “I knew I was wide open so I just turned a little early. Jimmy had thrown it already, so I had to catch it. I knew that we had to get to the 37-yard line for (the winning field goal).”
Kittle said the 49ers knew Tennessee was going to be a tight zone and coach Kyle Shanahan dialed up seam throws that Garoppolo fit into receivers.
“It was kind of shocking. We started on the 25. I had the quick pass and then two plays later, we’re in field goal range,” rookie receiver Trent Taylor said.. “It happened real fast, but that’s just credit to all the guys on the offense that we’ve got out there making plays for us.”
Garoppolo started the drive with three straight completions to Taylor, Kittle and Marquise Goodwin for 45 yards. He then spiked the ball at the Tennessee 30. Two plays later, kicker Robbie Gould kicked his fifth field goal of the day, a 48-yarder, to win the game with no time left.