Kyle Shanahan confirms the 49ers have moved on to Trey Lance

SANTA CLARA (Diya TV) — Trey Area is officially here. On Tuesday, San Francisco 49ers HC Kyle Shanahan proclaimed in a press conference that the team has moved on from former starter Jimmy Garoppolo and is looking towards Trey Lance, the 2021 3rd overall pick out of North Dakota State. A massive trade up during the 2021 offseason led to the selection of Lance as the Niners had to mortgage their short term future to potentially secure their long term future.

During the season however, Garoppolo had taken the reins with Lance only seeing time on the field when Garoppolo was hurt. Lance himself also had to deal with injuries but was able to start two games. The Niners made the big trade-up because of Garoppolo’s inconsistency in play and health. A big statement from Shanahan ended any doubts about Lance being the starter or a potential QB battle in camp: 

“We have moved on to Trey. This is Trey’s team. That’s nothing against Jimmy. We made that decision a year ago and we’re going with that. We’re not going to mess around with that anymore. Jimmy understands that fully. That’s a business decision and that’s what makes it not awkward. Jimmy knows we’re going with Trey. Trey knows we’re going with Trey and our team does, and everyone likes both of those guys.”

– HC Kyle Shanahan

It is the end of an era for Jimmy Garoppolo in San Francisco. After the Niners traded a 2nd round pick for him, he enjoyed successful years with the team, including 2019 and 2021 which saw the Niners make it to the final four (and a Super Bowl appearance in 2019). Ultimately, the team felt they needed an upgrade at the sport’s most important position and are now making the switch. 

As for potential trade suitors for Garoppolo, keep an eye on the Seattle Seahawks. It would be tough to negotiate with a division rival but if Seattle eats most of Garoppolo’s salary while sending over a high value pick, a deal could get done. Another likely situation is the Niners waiting for a starting QB to get injured in camp (it happens every year) as this will give them an avenue to trade Garoppolo for the value they seek. 

The Niners have officially ushered in a new era and are setting their sights on a bright future led by Trey Lance.