Kyle Shanahan initially inquired about the availability of Jimmy Garoppolo in February of 2017. 

“At that time, the only guys we thought were franchise quarterbacks that were being mentioned were Kirk and Jimmy,” Shanahan said. “And I knew Kirk wasn’t going to be a possibility. And I remember asking Bill [Belichick] personally down at the combine about Jimmy, and very quickly he told me that wasn’t a possibility. So we moved on from that. He told me he wasn’t going to trade him.”

Shanahan was shocked when the Patriots approached the 49ers in October if they had interest in trading for Garoppolo.

“We were 0–8. We’d just gotten our asses kicked by Philly," said Shanahan. "I came in on a Monday and that was the last thing I was thinking about. And that ended up popping up. It’s different, because it’s a big deal, we want those draft picks. We know have a ways to go, we want to build this organization the right way. And what worried me was having to decide long-term on a guy in just a few games.”

Shanahan and John Lynch only needed 10 minutes to accept New England's proposal of a second round pick for Garoppolo. 

The 49ers signed Garoppolo to a five-year, $137.5 million contract this offseason.

“Everyone wants to talk the numbers. Man, that’s what quarterbacks cost. I don’t even think about the numbers,” Shanahan said. “I look at everything as, ‘Is this a top guy? Is this a guy that has a chance to be one of the better guys in the league?’ And once you believe that, you do whatever it takes to keep him. And that’s what it takes to keep him.”