Former 49ers starting QB might be ready to retire after 12 seasons

Several former San Francisco 49ers are still unsigned on the free agent market over a month into the new league year, and while some of them will sign somewhere and play in 2026, others may have to call it a career.

According to a report from ESPN on Monday, former 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo is one player who is considering retirement at this point in the offseason.

Garoppolo, 34, was a second-round pick of the New England Patriots in the 2014 NFL draft out of Eastern Illinois. New England traded him to San Francisco in 2017, where he remained until 2023. He spent the 2023 season with the Las Vegas Raiders and the last two years as a backup for the Los Angeles Rams.

In his six seasons with the 49ers, he appeared in 57 games and started 55 while leading the team to a 38-17 record. He completed 67.6% of his passes for 13,599 yards (seventh-most in franchise history), 82 touchdowns (eighth) and 42 interceptions.

Garoppolo still may be in play to back up Matthew Stafford again in 2026, but if Les Snead and Sean McVay decide to go another direction, the quarterback could be ready to move on for the next phase of his life.