SANTA CLARA — Jimmy Garoppolo’s spectacular effort that lifted the 49ers on Sunday over the New Orleans Saints also snapped a ridiculously long drought when it comes to NFL honors.
Garoppolo was named NFC Offensive Player of the Month on Wednesday, as named by the NFL’s communications wing.
No 49ers quarterback, not even Colin Kaepernick in his five-year tenure, won that award since Alex Smith for his penultimate start for the franchise in October 2012.
The last time any 49ers won the NFC player-of-the-week honor: 2013, Anquan Boldin, for his season-opening effort.
Garoppolo passed for four touchdowns and 349 yards in Sunday’s 48-46, walk-off win at the Saints, putting the 49ers (11-2) top the NFC playoff race with three games to go.