Niners legend Steve Young sees team's QB situation as 'perfect' scenario

The San Francisco 49ers have one of the most intriguing quarterback situations in the league entering this season, mostly because nobody is really sure how it is all going to go. 

They obviously have high expectations for Trey Lance after trading up to get him a year ago and naming him their starter heading into the 2022 season.

They also still have veteran Jimmy Garoppolo on their roster despite an offseason of trade rumors. The fact that Garoppolo is back on a significantly reduced salary has led to speculation that maybe the 49ers are not totally sold on Lance as a starter. That could lead to a quarterback controversy if things do not go well.

And if there is anybody that knows anything about a quarterback controversy in San Francisco, it is Hall of Fame quarterback Steve Young who was a part of the ultimate quarterback controversy in San Francisco with Joe Montana 30 years ago.

Young spent some time on Friday discussing the 49ers' current quarterback situation and sees it as the perfect scenario for Lance, Garoppolo, and the 49ers.

First, on Lance's situation as the starter and having a reliable backup behind that is not a toxic personality:

“The job, how do I put it,” Young paused. “It’s like climbing Everest. It’s for experts only. ‘Oh, Sir Edmund Hillary is sitting in the tent with me? I still have to climb Everest. It doesn’t matter.’ “It helps because Jimmy is not a toxic personality, and if Trey needs help, he can ask him.”

On Garoppolo, Young sees this as an opportunity for him to change the narrative surrounding him. As Young puts it, it should be eye-opening to Garoppolo that he is 33-14 as a starter, been to a Super Bowl, and played in two NFC Championship games and he was still unable to find a starting job this offseason in a quarterback-centric league.

“If I’m him, I can’t keep playing the same music and thinking I’m getting a starting job somewhere. This is a period of time he can start change narrative, whether it’s first guy in, last guy out, memorization, owning the data, processing. Whatever’s out there that’s keeping him from getting a starting job, he needs to change.

“He can do that from a backup role by showing his diligence, showing ‘I’m the hardest working guy, I’m in the film room, I’ve never owned more data in my life, I’m memorizing.’ Coaches would talk: “Jimmy’s really different.’

“If I’m Jimmy, I just got punched in the face. I’m 34-14, been to the Super Bowl and two (NFC) championship games and was just told by the league, now people say the timing, the shoulder — this is the quarterback world. If you are a starting quarterback, you would have found a job. So you’ve got to do something to change the narrative, and maybe somebody gets hurt and then there’s (a market).”

You can read more of Young's commentary via The Mercury News.

No matter what happens this is going to be a fascinating storyline to watch unfold.

Lance is clearly the player the 49ers want to be the guy and they absolutely see more upside in him both short-term and long-term given the price they paid to acquire him and the fact they are turning the offense over to him.

But the fact that Garoppolo was willing to come back on a reduced salary, and with a clause that he will not be traded or franchise tagged, definitely seems to suggest he still sees an opportunity to play in San Francisco this season. If he does, and if he plays well, that could set him up for a huge payday this offseason.