On Sept. 8, 2022, 49ers fans, including myself, sat either eagerly watching their televisions or screaming in the stands of Levi’s Stadium.
The eyes of young fans filled with hope as their shiny new quarterback stepped onto the field. It was Trey Lance’s second year in the NFL and the coaches believed he’d earned a starting spot for the 2022 season. He beat out veteran quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo for this position.
Garoppolo had started for the previous five years and became a symbol of hatred and loss to many of the 49er faithful. Although his overall record wasn’t bad at 39 wins and 18 losses, he was known as someone who choked in the most crucial moments.
In 2019, he led the team to a Super Bowl during which he threw two interceptions and cost his team the win. This was the last straw for many 49ers fans.
I saw Lance as the surgeon tasked with cutting away the cancer from our team that was Jimmy Garoppolo. In the first game of the regular season, Lance threw for 0 touchdowns, 1 interception, and completed 13 out of 28 passes.
After this game I had my doubts but I still had hope in the young quarterback. It was his first time starting in an NFL game; the hopes of millions of fans rode on his shoulders. Anyone could feel that pressure.
I carried this hope into the next week as the second game of the season started. Sadly, this is where things took a turn for the worse. Lance was tackled in a run up the middle of the field in the first quarter. I watched the screen, horrified, as he was carted off the field cradling his ankle. He didn’t return and was out for the season.
Garoppolo was back on the field and finished out the game. I saw glimpses of the quarterback that I used to love in the next couple months.
By the 12th game of the season, Garoppolo had stacked up eight wins and three losses for the team. The future was bright; the 49ers were on track to make a playoff run.
Think about how happy we all were to see our veteran quarterback performing again. Now think about how crushed we were as we watched him get carted off the field in the first quarter with a broken foot. I sat on my couch stunned as Garoppolo disappeared off the screen.
Third string quarterback Brock Purdy stepped onto the field. He was given the name “Mr. Irrelevant” as the very last pick in the 2022 draft. I figured the season was over.
Purdy threw for two touchdowns, 210 yards, and a win in his first ever NFL game. For the rest of the regular season, the 49ers were undefeated.
In the 2023 season, Brock Purdy now has the highest passer rating in NFL history.
It’s stories like these that make the 49ers such an incredible team.
Knowing how good this team is, many analysts are calling them a “Super Bowl or bust team,”. meaning that anything short of making the Super Bowl would be a disappointment.
They have some of the best players in the league on both the offensive and defensive sides of the football.
Christian McCaffrey is arguably the best running back in the league and is currently one game away from breaking the NFL record for most consecutive games with a touchdown.
Defensive End Nick Bosa is the reigning defensive player of the year and is having an underwhelming season so far.
There are so many different narratives being weaved on this 49ers team. Will Purdy live up to the hype? Will McCaffrey break the record? Will we see Nick Bosa return to his previous form?
These questions are what make the 49ers such an exciting team to watch.
They are currently on a bye week, meaning they won’t have a game until their Nov. 13 matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars. I suggest to anyone who doesn’t follow football, or who just doesn’t have a team to root for: watch this game.
