He’s not Joe Montana.
He’s not Steve Young.
Get over it, already.
He’s Jeff Garcia
He’s not Joe Montana.
He’s not Steve Young.
Get over it, already.
He’s Jeff Garcia –the man who orchestrated the biggest comeback in San Francisco 49ers’ playoff history and the second biggest comeback in National Football League postseason history.
The Garcia legacy began the minute he erased a 24-point, third-quarter deficit against the New York Giants and led the 49ers to an unthinkable, unimaginable 39-38 come-from-behind victory in front of the wildly happy hometown fans. He had done it before in the regular season – but this time it was in the playoffs. Do or die.
“I think it’s hard to fathom right now. I can’t even really grasp my emotions. I think I’m feeling the most calm I felt all game long as far as just trying to soak it all in,” said a physically and emotionally drained Garcia as he hunched over on the microphone stand while fielding questions from the media. “I think when you play a game like that you put everything in your heart and soul on the field, and it leaves you a little zapped afterwards.
“But I tell you what, it’s probably the most gratifying feeling, most exciting feeling that I felt in a long time. To be able to rally back like that with a group of guys that just never quit, they just never gave up, is something special to be a part of.”
Garcia finished up 27-of-44 for 331 passing yards and three touchdowns, while scrambling for 60 yards on the ground – none more important than his 14-yard touchdown gallop on the opening play of the fourth quarter.
“You really have to pick and choose your times (to run),” Garcia said. “The touchdown run really caught them off guard. Everybody sucked in for the run, and I was able to basically find my way into the end zone untouched. It was just one of those plays that was executed very well.”
Garcia also did it with his accurate arm – which has been criticized his entire career for being too weak to throw the long bomb. Whatever – accuracy, smarts and guts were enough to get it done.
On the game-winning drive that started on the San Francisco 32-yard line, Garcia – now at the New York 13-yard line – checked the coverage and knew who he was going to get the ball to on the play. Not Terell Owens. Not J.J. Stokes. It was Tai Streets – the man who emerged as the 49ers’ number-two receiver this year.
“He’s really the third option on that play, and it’s one of those things that you just have to read it out based upon coverages. But they doubled up on J.J. Stokes and they doubled up on T.O. in the middle and Tai became the one-on-one guy,” Garcia said. “Even though he’s maybe listed as the number three (option), I know before that play, before the ball is snapped, where I’m thinking about going with the football.”
It was the right decision – which quite possibly erased all the negative things ever said about the small town boy from Gilroy and started his own 49ers’ legacy.
“I’m still trying to build a legacy. I’m still trying to move forward as far as being a player within this team. There’s so much more for me to accomplish as far as being the quarterback and one of the leaders on this team,” Garcia said. “Obviously, the Lombardi Trophy is what we’re after, and until that situation takes place, I really believe my legacy is going to continue to build. I’m never going to be completely satisfied with myself unless I expect the best out of myself. That’s the only way I’m going to continue to drive and have the passion from within to play this game.”
His passion and drive are legendary trademarks that Gilroyans have followed for years and what got Garcia in the position he is today. Not many professional players go the route he did – from Gilroy High to Gavilan Community College to San Jose State to the Canadian Football League to the NFL. If you look at it that way, Garcia’s legacy started long ago when he was told he was too small and did not have the arm strength to play in the NFL.
But Bill Walsh – the former 49ers’ coach who made Super Bowl victories a common place in San Francisco – was maybe the first important NFL figure to notice something special in Garcia after witnessing his record-setting performance in the East-West Shrine Game.
“I’m going to be excited about today. I’m excited about so many things that have taken place while I have been here with the San Francisco 49ers,” Garcia said. “Obviously, I’m living a dream in so many ways, and when I’m through playing the game I’m going to look back at this little era that I had with this team and feel very blessed for what I was able to do and what I was able to be a part of.
“But as far as legacies are concerned, I’m still trying to find my way out of the hole sometimes.”
Garcia dug the 49ers out of a 24-point hole – and, in doing so, brushed off some of the unfair comparisons to Montana and Young that he hears on a daily basis. Using a two-minute offense from midway through the third quarter to the end, he masterfully picked apart the Giants’ secondary and took off running when he could.
“I knew coming into today I had to play like I played against the Raiders, play utilizing my legs, utilizing everything I have within myself in order for us to be effective,” Garcia said. “I think today there was no holding back. It was one of those things where you have to leave it all out on the field because there’s not going to be a tomorrow if you don’t get it done today.”
Garcia got it done. He didn’t panic. He didn’t throw in the towel. He did what he’s been doing his entire career. It may not be the prettiest way to get things done. But Sunday it was the only way.
“They really put us in a deep hole, and it was one of those things where you can’t necessarily recover all that in just one play, but you have to allow yourself to have the opportunity to come back,” Garcia said. “I think by doing the two-minute offense midway through the third quarter, we started to give ourselves an opportunity to get in some sort of rhythm, to get into a position where we could allow our guys to make plays, and really it was one play after the next of guys just stepping up and playing ball.”
Garcia led and his teammates followed. But the modest star will tell you it could not have worked without his teammates. Realistically, it could not have worked without him.
“It starts with the offensive line. They did an outstanding job all game long of keeping guys off my back, allowing me to work, allowing me to move around a little bit, allowing receivers to find ways to get open and guys continuing to make plays one play after the next,” he said. “It goes on the defensive side, too, because they came up with the big stops. We couldn’t have done this without them having a couple of three-and-outs.”
Can Garcia do it again next week against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers? Well, he’s given 49ers fans something to believe in. It’s not Joe Montana, and it’s not Steve Young. It’s the red-headed slinger from Gilroy.
