NFL Rumors: Joe Montana settles 49ers’ QB situation with radical solution

The San Francisco 49ers had a debacle at the quarterback position this season despite being one game away from a Super Bowl appearance.

They entered the season starting second-year quarterback Trey Lance, who they selected with the number three pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. They traded four future draft picks to move up the draft and pick him. Unfortunately, his season ended much quicker than expected. He suffered a season-ending ankle injury in Week 2.

Backup quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo went 7-3 as the team's starter before suffering a Lisfranc injury that sidelined him for the remainder of the season.

Next up was rookie quarterback Brock Purdy. The 2022 seventh-round pick came out of nowhere and surprised everyone. He led the team to a 5-0 record to end the regular season.

The 49ers advanced to the NFC championship with Purdy at the helm. He suffered a UCL tear in the game, and the Niners lost 31-7 to the Philadelphia Eagles. Since the injury typically takes a full year to heal, he won't be available for the majority of the 2023 season.

Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Montano recently offered a bold opinion on who he believes should start for the 49ers next season.

Montana said via The Volume:

"I start Jimmy [Garappolo]. He has won a lot of games. I can't say the same for Trey. You don't know that from him. I don't think it's hard -- I think you just start Jimmy."

"He still won a lot of games before he got hurt, right? And so he put [Purdy] in that position to be able to go on that run, to begin with. So, you handed a guy a team, sort of like somebody else I know got handed a good team. You've got to go with the guy who's been winning the games and gets the offense and go from there."

The San Francisco 49ers have said that Jimmy Garoppolo won't be back with the team next season

New Orleans Saints v San Francisco 49ers

While Montana thinks the team should retain Garoppolo for another season, the 49ers feels differently.

Head coach Kyle Shanahan spoke with the media a week ago and said that he does not see a scenario where Garoppolo returns.

While discussing Trey Lance and Brock Purdy, Shanahan was asked if Garoppolo would be back with the team.

Shanahan said:

“No, I don’t see any scenario of that.”