Highlights and stats from Garcia’s football career
From 1999 – 2004
1999 – 2000
After five seasons in the Canadian Football League, highlighted by a 1998 Grey Cup Championship and the MVP Award, quarterback Jeff Garcia signed a free agent contract on Feb. 16 with the San Francisco 49ers. Garcia saw his first NFL action late in the second half at Jacksonville on Sept. 12. He replaced the injured Steve Young on Sept. 27 against Arizona and then got his first career start Oct. 3 against Tennessee, throwing his first career touchdown on a 21-yard pass to Charlie Garner. Although he did not cement his starting role unit weeks later, Garcia started the final three games of the season with a career-high 437 yards and three touchdowns against Cincinnati.
Rookie Season Stats:
• 13 games played
• 10 games started
• 225/375 passing for 2,544 yards • 60 percent pass completion
• 11 TDs, 11 INTs
• 77.9 QB rating
• 45 rushes for 231 yards for 5.1 average and two TDs.
Team Record:
4-12 overall
2000 – 2001
Garcia started all 16 games for the 49ers and threw for team-record and career-high 4,278 yards and was second in the NFL with 31 touchdowns, which was the fifth 30-touchdown season in team history with John Brodie (30 in 1965), Joe Montana (31 in 1987) and Steve Young (35 in 1994 and 36 in 1998). He was named to his first Pro Bowl after becoming only the second 49er quarterback to break the 4,000 yard mark (Steve Young, 1993 &1998).
Season Stats:
• 16 games started
• 355/561 for 4,278 yards
• 63.3 percent pass completion
• 31 TDs, 10 INTs
• 97.6 QB rating
• 72 rushes for 414 yards for 5.8 average and four TDs
Team Record:
6-10
2001 – 2002
Garcia starts all 16 games for the 49ers, guiding them to a 12-4 overall record for his second straight 30-plus touchdown season and second straight Pro Bowl selection. But Garcia and the Niners failed to advance in the playoffs, losing to the Green Bay Packers, 25-15.
Season Stats:
• 16 games started
• 316/504 for 3,538 yards
• 62.7 percent pass completion
• 32 TDs, 12 INTs
• 94.8 QB rating
• 72 rushes for 254 yards for 3.5 average and five touchdowns
Team Record:
12-4 overall
2002 – 2003
Garcia once again starts all 16 games for the 49ers in his third consecutive Pro Bowl season. In the playoffs, Garcia makes his most notable performance in a 49ers uniform, orchestrating a 24-point, second-half comeback to defeat the New York Giants, 39-38. In his first playoff victory, Garcia finishes 27-of-44 for 331 passing yards and three touchdowns, while scrambling for 60 yards and a 14-yard touchdown run. But the 49ers lose in the Divisional Championship to the eventual Super Bowl Champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Season Stats:
• 16 games started
• 328/528 for 3,344 yards
• 62.1 percent pass completion
• 21 TDs, 10 INTs
• 85.6 QB rating
• 72 rushes for 353 yards for 4.9 average and three touchdowns
Team Record:
10-6 overall
2003 – 2004
Before the season even gets started, Garcia is hit with his first injury since his senior year of high school with a herniated disc that he suffered during a personal training session. After sitting out of training camp for 10 days, he returns in time to start the last pre-season game and then the Niners’ opening week victory over the Chicago Bears. However, a high-ankle sprain would later stop his streak of consecutive starts at 61 games. After throwing four interceptions in his return to the starting lineup against Baltimore, Garcia makes the NFL history books with a six-touchdown performance against the Arizona Cardinals on Dec. 7. Garcia becomes only the third quarterback in NFL history to pass for four touchdowns and rush for two more in the same game. But the 49ers fail to reach the playoffs in a disappointing season.
Season Stats:
• 13 games started
• 225/392 for 2,704 yards
• 57.4 percent pass completion
• 18 TDs, 13 INTs
• 80.1 QB rating
• 56 rushes for 319 yards for 5.7 average and seven touchdowns
Team Record:
7-9 overall
