Jimmy Garoppolo Potentially Returning to the 49ers is Zero

Kyle Shanahan put an end to any chance of Jimmy Garoppolo returning to the 49ers, but this was also the case last year.

Looks like the Jimmy Garoppolo era with the San Francisco 49ers is finally coming to an indefinite close. 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch held their exit press conference on Wednesday where Shanahan gave a simple answer on Garoppolo returning.

"I don't see any scenario of that."

Garoppolo potentially returning to the 49ers is zero. That is how I interpreted the answer from Shanahan with Lynch refraining to add to it. Now, we have seen this scenario play out before. The 49ers swore that Garoppolo returning was dead in the water as they were looking for a suitor in a trade for him with Trey Lance taking over. 

Then all of a sudden Garoppolo returned to the 49ers on a one-year deal after training camp. No one could have made up how the handling of Garoppolo would've transpired. He went from giving his goodbyes in his exit press conference following last year's NFC championship loss to the Rams, to starting for the 49ers once again when Lance suffered a season-ending injury. 

And if you look at how Shanahan phrases the answer, he leaves himself a lane where he can always welcome Garoppolo back. Given that the 49ers have two injured quarterbacks in Lance and Brock Purdy, maybe Garoppolo ends up finding his way back to San Francisco again. 

However, I think this time Shanahan means it. I don't believe they will consider bringing Garoppolo back no matter what happens. For starters, Shanahan and Lynch didn't offer any goodbyes or thanks to Garoppolo in their exit presser like they did last year. The 49ers also didn't provide Garoppolo a platform to speak on his season and future. Quite the difference on how they treat him when he is on a contract versus an expiring one. It looks clear to me that they are phasing him out and want him to exit quietly this time around. 

Shanahan kept his answer on the potential of Garoppolo returning short and sweet with a firm tone of voice. I wonder if he's also fed up with Garoppolo after yet another season where he suffered a significant injury. Plus, Shanahan got to call a drastically improved offense once Purdy took over, so he now has experienced what it is like to have an actually solid quarterback.

If the 49ers do end up looking to add to their quarterback room, then it will be elsewhere. Garoppolo's tenure in San Francisco done for good.