Lynch wants to keep Garoppolo with 49ers 'for a long, long time'

The San Francisco 49ers are reaping the rewards after starting quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo has guided the team to five straight wins to end the season. Now, with the 26-year-old slated to become a free agent, general manager John Lynch hopes to lock him up long term.

"We're going to work hard to try to keep (Garoppolo) as a 49er for a long, long time," Lynch told Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle at his season-ending news conference on Tuesday. "We're really happy with the way he played. We think he's got some abilities that are unique and we want him here."

Lynch said a collective decision was made not to negotiate an extension during the season and that both sides will discuss a new deal.

The 49ers made a surprise deal on Oct. 30 to acquire Garoppolo from the New England Patriots for a second-round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. He made his first start with the 49ers against the Chicago Bears in Week 13 and hasn't looked back, tossing seven touchdowns and leading the team to victories over the playoff-bound Jacksonville Jaguars and Los Angeles Rams.

Garoppolo is 7-0 in his career as a starting NFL quarterback as he won two games with the Patriots in 2016 in place of Tom Brady, who was suspended four games to start the season.