49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo made waves at the end of 2017, and not just because he won five straight games to close the season. The hype train really got rolling after NFL Films published video of a mic’d up Garoppolo running a game winning two minute drill against the Tennessee Titans in Week 15. The video showed Garoppolo’s seemingly natural ability as a leader, made even more impressive by the fact that he’d only been with the team for a month and a half.
Garoppolo joined John Lund & Kevin Frandsen at the 49ers facility in Santa Clara on Thursday, and was asked if the video accurately reflected his leadership style.
“I’ve kind of always been like that,” Garoppolo said. “I think in football, in that locker room guys aren’t stupid. If you’re being fake they’re going to know you’re being fake in a heartbeat. You’ve just got to be yourself out there. I’ve kind of always been vocal. I talk with my hands because I’m Italian. When I’m describing routes, I was telling Dante the other day, he asked me a route and I drew it with my hand and I was like ‘Hey, you’ve got to speak my language, because that’s how I describe routes sometimes.’ That’s just how I’ve always been I guess since I became a quarterback.”
Jimmy G also compared his comfort level heading into training camp this year as opposed to last season when he had to learn everything on the fly.
“Much easier. As football players we like a routine, or at least I do. That daily routine that you get into; drive in, do your morning schedule, get into the afternoon, do your afternoon schedule, and day after day you just start stacking the days together. Last year I didn’t have a routine. Every day was different, getting a million things started. Now it’s more comfortable, honestly is the number one word for it. Guys around here just make it so easy, it’s awesome.”
Listen to the full interview below. For Garoppolo on his leadership, start from 11:15
