Jimmy Garoppolo Suffers Torn ACL, San Francisco 49ers Believe

Jimmy Garoppolo's stint as a leading man could be on a lengthy hold. The San Francisco 49ers quarterback suffered what the team believes is a torn left ACL in a loss at Kansas City Sunday afternoon.

Garoppolo, still popular around these parts after a three-year stint at Tom Brady's backup, will have an MRI Monday. He was carted off the field after taking a big hit from Chiefs cornerback Steven Nelson.

The 26-year-old Garropolo was playing in just his third game after signing a deal that was at that time the largest annual payout in NFL history. His contract was reportedly for five years and $137.5 million.

Much of the Patriots' recent off-field drama is connected to 'Jimmy G.'

He appeared to be the quarterback that would take the reigns from Brady and steer the team into another decade-plus of success. Garropolo was drafted in 2014 and started the first two games of 2015 while Brady served a suspension for Deflategate.

He was traded in the middle of last season to the 49ers for a second-round pick. League gossip and subsequent reports indicated he was pushed out the door against Coach Bill Belichik's wishes as an act of affirmation to Brady, who said he planned on sticking around into his mid-40s.

Jimmy Garoppolo is carted off the field after an injury during the fourth quarter of the game against the Kansas City Chiefs. (Photo by David Eulitt/Getty Images)