MIAMI — From New England to San Francisco, Jimmy Garoppolo is used to being in the shadow of other quarterbacks, great and greater. Getting distant second billing to Kansas City counterpart Patrick Mahomes in Super Bowl 54 is nothing when you're trying to live up the level of what Tom Brady and Joe Montana did for two different teams.
Given those legendary quarterbacks of the Patriots and 49ers have won a combined 10 Super Bowls as starters, Garoppolo, with his two rings as a backup to Brady, has a long way to go to be mentioned in their elite championship company. But in terms of the personality, mindset and looks to be Super successful, Garoppolo's makeup is the ideal mashup of the GOAT QBs.
Garoppolo was smooth as a quarterback can be facing the throng of Super Bowl media all week, answering every question well, often with a laugh and a disarming smile. Classically winsome, he is equal parts Brady gritty and Montana cool. He's an All-American grounded kid like Brady, with the Italian-American charm and charisma of Montana. Garoppolo balances affable and stoic like a rare few quarterbacks can.
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“I’ve heard from Tom that you’ve got to have fun with it. You can’t let this stress you out or overwhelm you," Garoppolo said. "It’s all part of the Super Bowl — and a good problem to have."
Garoppolo quickly learned well by example as Brady's most talented understudy, less about how to execute in the passing game and more about how to carry himself in the right way, on and off the field, Super Bowl or otherwise.
"He treats it like every other game. You could see it, how he is, his body mannerisms, everything, just how he prepares for it makes him confident on Sunday," Garoppolo said. "I'm trying to do the same thing."
Garoppolo, who got a good-luck text from Brady ahead of Super Bowl 54, also was beloved by Bill Belichick and the rest of his Patriots teammates, which sold 49ers general manager John Lynch on making the trade for him in October 2017.
Lynch didn't know right away how good a starting quarterback Garoppolo would be for his team. But it didn't take long for him to know the 49ers had the right face of the franchise. Like Montana, it was evident that he was much more than a pretty face.
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"I think his Midwest roots are really evident," Lynch told Sporting News. "The fact that he has a great family and that he probably was humbled by older brothers, put in his place a few times. He’s a joy to be around."
With Garoppolo there's still that element of a grinder still trying to prove himself. Montana was not highly thought of as a third-round draft pick from Notre Dame. Brady was motivated by going only in the sixth round coming out of Michigan. Garoppolo has needed to push himself since converting to QB late in high school and playing for FCS Eastern Illinois.
"We’ve got a coach who’s extremely demanding and expects a high level, a high standard of play out of him, and Jimmy’s awesome at that," Lynch said. "That’s where the linebacker in him helps. He started out as a linebacker, so he’s not sensitive."
After playing for Belichick, Garoppolo was ready and willing to be pushed by 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan, even embracing it.
"It’s fun because there’s no BS to Jimmy," Shanahan said. "You don’t have to play any games with him. You don’t have to sit there and tell him how much you care about him or anything. He knows it. We’re good. I coach him hard when I need to. I'm cool with him when I’m not."
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LIke Brady, Garoppolo's competitive spirit comes from his own relentless drive.
"Jimmy’s very hard on himself," Shanahan said. "He likes you to get on him because I think it helps him focus. Jimmy goes as hard as he can."
For no reason whatsoever, Garoppolo has been maligned in comparison to Mahomes, despite throwing for 8.4 yards per attempt (one spot ahead of Mahomes) and rating 102.0 (one spot behind Mahomes) with similar passing volume overall. He's channeled some of Montana's best seasons. Garoppolo has gotten praise from Montana himself for his play.
Cornerback Richard Sherman loves defending his QB from the criticism that ridiculously has put Garoppolo in the class of classic caretaker QBs who won Super Bowls, including Jim McMahon, Trent Dilfer and Brad Johnson.
"We see what kind of work ethic he puts in, the hours he puts in preparing, the first one in, the last one out," Sherman said of Garoppolo. The guy looks for no credit. All he does is encourage his teammates and put more work in."
That profile of Garoppolo not thinking he's better or more special than anyone else on his team — down to practice-squad players — also mirrors Brady. He carries that over into the Montana-like quality of liking everyone with whom he plays.
“He’s been the same guy his entire life," 49ers left tackle Joe Staley said. "He’s very down to earth and wants to be one of the guys. He doesn’t want to be a star or fame guy. He’s very easy to get along with him as a close friend.”
In talking to Brady and Garoppolo early in their draft processes through now, their humility stands out. In talking to Montana over the years, he makes you feel like a best buddy with whom you have shared many a chuckle. Now Garoppolo can go from going full Patriot Way with Brady to following the great 49er tradition with Montana.
Garoppolo isn't trying to be them, and can't be, because no one is and may never be. There's no doubt, however, beyond his talent, that he's nailed down their Super traits.
