Two Championship Games in three years – and still the criticism of Jimmy Garoppolo is getting louder. So loud, in fact, that the debate over the 49ers quarterback between journalists and ex-Niners stars is almost getting personal.

Munich – Patrick Mahomes, Joe Burrow, Matthew Stafford and Jimmy Garoppolo. Those are the remaining four quarterbacks in the Championship Games.

Mahomes had an incredible duel with the Buffalo Bills and Josh Allen. He led his Kansas City Chiefs to victory in overtime thanks to an outstanding performance. Burrow took nine sacks against the Tennessee Titans and still found a way to reach the next round with the Cincinnati Bengals.

Stafford defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with the Los Angeles Rams in the closing seconds, when the momentum was actually completely on the side of Tom Brady and the Bucs.

And Garoppolo? He can thank the special teams for getting him through to the next round in Green Bay. With one interception and only 130 passing yards, he can’t be blamed for his Niners’ victory.

Jimmy Garoppolo: Stats don’t speak for him

“Jimmy G” may have led his team to its second championship game in three years, but he always has to take some criticism.

He makes too many wrong decisions, throws too many interceptions and can hardly extend plays beyond the actual game plan. Just a system quarterback who benefits from the good coaching of Kyle Shanahan and the rest of the offense.

The stats make it easy for the critics: six interceptions and two touchdowns in the past four games. No passing touchdowns in the current postseason. Only 303 passing yards against the Packers and Dallas Cowboys.

The numbers are all well and good, yet the media’s slating of them sometimes takes on pretentious overtones. An “ESPN” programme, for example, went viral, focusing on Garoppolo’s performance.

Jimmy Garoppolo: “ESPN” journalist takes sharp shot

Taking the role of critic, journalist Mina Kimes took a sharp shot at the signal-caller. “Garoppolo is the epitome of a student who gets top marks for group work without having any part in it,” she rumbled.

She also predicted that at the end of the season it would be Garoppolo’s fault if the 49ers failed to win the Super Bowl again. The rest of the team, she said, was in a good enough position.

Partly gloating words that go too far for some other pundits. Ex-49ers quarterback Jeff Garcia came forward on Instagram and jumped to the 30-year-old’s side.

“Who the hell is Mina Kimes and when was the last time she threw a touchdown pass?” the four-time Pro Bowler asked provocatively. “She’s never played a snap and can’t understand the skill set, mindset, physical toughness and mental toughness it takes to play quarterback in the NFL. “

San Francisco 49ers: Jeff Garcia defends “Jimmy G “

It’s ridiculous that there’s a platform for people who never played football and are still allowed to talk about it. People should laugh at the journalist and support Garoppolo and the 49ers.

No one is likely to dispute that it is former NFL quarterbacks and coaches who can best empathise with the body of an NFL professional and base their observations and opinions on it. Still, Garcia, like Kimes, has also crossed boundaries.

Women journalists, fans and football enthusiasts can also acquire the necessary knowledge to judge and neatly assess a professional’s performance.

Ultimately, the tone makes the music. And within a football team, nothing is more decisive than the opinion of teammates and those in charge. They can’t praise their signal-caller enough.

Garoppolo: Kittle and Shanahan make their case

George Kittle, for example, stressed the importance of having Garoppolo in every huddle as a calming influence. “He takes so much shit, a lot of people are constantly trying to drag him down. Still, he tries to deliver, he leads this team and makes it possible for us to play football at the highest level,” the tight end said.

Words that should not only do “Jimmy G” good, but also head coach Kyle Shanahan, who has had to justify his decision to keep holding on to Garoppolo all year due to the drafting of backup Trey Lance.

“I’m glad the players are sticking up for him because it’s true what they’re saying,” the 42-year-old confirmed, “Jimmy is one of the main reasons we’re here. He’s done an incredible job for us and people just don’t give him enough credit for that. We’re winning as a team and that’s the only reason he’s not delivering the same stats as the MVP candidates.”

It’s true: Jimmy Garoppolo is winning and is part of a successful football team. He has a shot at a second Super Bowl in three years. Unlike MVP favourites Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers.

And unlike Mina Kimes and Jeff Garcia.