Fansided

Jerry Rice disagrees with Joe Montana about 49ers QB situation

By Mark Powell

17 Dec 2000: Jerry Rice #80 of the San Francisco 49ers walks off the field during the game against the Chicago Bears at the 3Com Park in San Francisco, California. The 49ers defeated the Bears 17-0.Mandatory Credit: Jed Jacobsohn /Allsport
17 Dec 2000: Jerry Rice #80 of the San Francisco 49ers walks off the field during the game against the Chicago Bears at the 3Com Park in San Francisco, California. The 49ers defeated the Bears 17-0.Mandatory Credit: Jed Jacobsohn /Allsport /
facebooktwitterreddit

San Francisco 49ers legend Jerry Rice has a different take than his former teammate Joe Montana on the Jimmy Garoppolo vs. Trey Lance debate.

The 49ers have a busy offseason ahead, and it all starts with the quarterback position. Even San Francisco’s own players — most recently Deebo Samuel — have started thanking Garoppolo as if he’s leaving, while building up Lance as the future of the franchise.

Garoppolo could fetch a second-round draft pick, or something similar, should the 49ers trade him to a franchise in desperate need of a reliable signal-caller. But when San Francisco traded up to select Lance last April, they had to know this day was coming.

Garoppolo is fine. He’s a reliable, replacement-level quarterback who can steady a talented team which already has the right weapons in place. He is not Patrick Mahomes. He is not Josh Allen. He is not (the 49ers hope) Lance.

Yet, Montana went on the record claiming Lance could use another year of grooming, thus prompting the 49ers to keep Garoppolo.

49ers: Jerry Rice disagrees with Joe Montana on Trey Lance

Rice didn’t specifically mention his former teammate, nor would he ever call out Montana specifically, but the two have dueling opinions on this issue.

“I think it’s gonna be Trey Lance,” Rice said in an interview with FanSided’s Mark Carman. “He’s gonna be able to come back in and really feel comfortable. So…unless they want to give him more time and bring someone else in, (he’s the guy).”

Rice’s pitch isn’t a glowing review of Lance per say, but he does believe that the former first-round pick will get the next opportunity to start in San Francisco. This is unlike Montana, who vehemently believed Garoppolo ought to get another shot.

Unless John Lynch opts to bring in a quarterback from outside the organization — say an Aaron Rodgers type — all signs point to Lance taking snaps Week 1.

Next. George Kittle is all about Aaron Rodgers-49ers rumors. dark

In partnership with Marriott Bonvoy, Pro Football Hall of Famer and 3-time Super Bowl Champion, Jerry Rice will participate in two unique experiences: a Virtual Super Bowl LVI Chalk Talk and a Coaching Session for a winning youth football team.