MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Jimmy Garoppolo rued being unable to produce a game-winning drive for the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl 54.
The Niners threw away a 10-point lead against the Kansas City Chiefs midway through the fourth quarter, with Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes throwing touchdown passes to Travis Kelce and Damien Williams to put his team ahead. Garoppolo got the ball back with 2:39 to go at the San Francisco 15 with the Niners four points down. A touchdown drive would surely have quelled the doubters who believe he is not a franchise quarterback.
He could only get his team to midfield, however, missing Emmanuel Sanders on a long-third down throw and then being sacked on fourth down.
MORE: Shanahan reminded of 28-3 as 49ers blow lead
Williams ran in another score to put the game to bed, and Garoppolo threw a second interception to Kendall Fuller in a game where he finished with 20-of-31 passing for 219 yards, with one touchdown and two picks.
Asked about being unable to deliver a game-winning moment, Garoppolo replied: "Those are the moments you dream of and everything."
"We got rolling on a right note and just couldn't finish it off," he said.
"It is tough but it's been a hell of a year with these guys. Everything we have been through from the start, it's an incredible story."
VIDEO: Chiefs-49ers Super Bowl 54 highlights
Garoppolo was a two-time Super Bowl winner as Tom Brady's backup with the New England Patriots, but he was on the losing side as the starter in San Francisco.
"It's tough, I mean, I've never had this feeling before," he said. "Kind of an unreal feeling."
San Francisco, with its swarming defense, appeared to be in control of the contest before Mahomes delivered fourth-quarter magic.
Niners tight end George Kittle, who finished with four catches for 36 yards, added: "It's pretty brutal.
"It just honestly sucks. It's not really anything you can wrap your head around. I feel like I wish I had another half to play, but I don't," he said.
"We didn't take advantage of our opportunities," Kittle added. "I wish we had another page in the book. We just didn't get it done."