Halloween night was what every San Francisco 49ers fan had been waiting for — not because it was a day filled with free candy — but because the 49ers had seemingly obtained a half-decent quarterback.

Jimmy Garoppolo, the understudy of arguably the greatest quarterback of all time, Tom Brady of the New England Patriots, was coming to the Bay Area in exchange for a second-round draft pick.

But Garoppolo sat on the bench for a month because he wasn’t familiar with the playbook or system of the 49ers.

And in that glorious month, the 49ers continued their string of losses with the exception of their win against the New York Giants.

When Garoppolo did take over, after an injury to CJ Beathard, the team was already established as the laughingstock of the NFL at a record of 1-10, a mere shadow of the fearsome team they once were.

On Dec. 3, Week 13 in the NFL, fans waited with bated breaths as Garoppolo ran out onto Soldier Field in Chicago, to face the promising but inexperienced Bears team.

The 49ers would struggle for most of the game, kicking four field goals and failing to find the end zone.

The score was 12-14, the 49ers trailing with little time left in the game.

It seemed like a guaranteed loss, and the 49ers looked as if they would have to continue their quest for the number one pick in next year’s draft.

Instead, Garoppolo found receiver after receiver and with nine seconds left in the game, 49ers kicker Robbie Gould nailed the 24-yard field goal to win the game.

Garoppolo proceeded to win his next four starts against the Texans, Titans, Jaguars and Rams, helping the 49ers finish the season on a five-game win streak. In these games, Garoppolo threw for more yards than 49ers legends Steve Young and Joe Montana combined in their first five games at quarterback.

Garoppolo’s strong play makes a new deal with him even more lucrative. However, in addition to plenty of draft picks, the 49ers are projected to have $119 million to spend on free agents during this offseason, improving their chance to resign Garoppolo and add talented players to their roster.

To land a franchise quarterback is a major achievement in the 49ers rebuilding process. With an entire offseason for Garoppolo to develop as an elite quarterback, and more help on both sides of the ball through the draft and free agency, it appears that the 49ers are ready to climb out of the cellar of the NFL.