Shortly after getting a deal done for Jimmy Garoppolo last season, reports surfaced that 49ers general manager John Lynch also inquired about trading for Tom Brady.
According Jay Glazer, when Lynch originally reached out to the Patriots to see if Jimmy Garoppolo was available for trade, New England turned the deal down…saying that Garoppolo was completely off the trading block.
Lynch, undeterred, called back and asked Belichick if he would trade Tom Brady. Listen to Glazer tell the story:
John Lynch is a legend for trying to trade for Tom Brady ?
(via @JayGlazer) https://t.co/sggaVkeLOx
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) November 5, 2017
Lynch confirmed this story in the latest episode of the Pardon My Take podcast.
“We were calling about Jimmy and we did have that conversation and got quickly rebuffed,” Lynch said.
“I figured, ‘What the heck, you gotta take your shot, right? You can’t score if you don’t shoot.’ I had to summon up the courage and Bill (Belichick) laughed at me and basically hung up on me. But hey, I took my shot.”
Though he was unable to land the five-time Super Bowl champion, the Garoppolo consolation prize has worked out well so far. Jimmy G won all five of his starts to close the season for the 49ers in 2017.