NFL: Jimmy Garoppolo will get start for 49ers

​For Jimmy Garoppolo, the wait is over. It's time to show he is ready to be a franchise quarterback, and that begins against his hometown team. Garoppolo makes his first start for San Francisco when the 49ers visit the Chicago Bears on Sunday in a game that matches struggling franchises.

"It's exciting," he said. "It really is. I've got a lot of family and friends going. They're just as excited as I am. It's going to be a fun opportunity. Good challenge for our team."

Garoppolo grew up a Bears fan in suburban Arlington Heights and played at Eastern Illinois. He had Brian Urlacher and Anthony Thomas jerseys as a youngster. But when he arrives at Soldier Field on Sunday, it will be his first time there for a Bears game.

He'll have quite a vantage point as the 49ers (1-10) try to pick up a rare win and hand the Bears (3-8) their fifth straight loss. Acquired from New England for a second-round draft pick in late October, Garoppolo finally gets his chance to be a starter after backing up Tom Brady for 31/2 years.

Though he has an expiring contract, the 49ers clearly view Garoppolo as a potential franchise quarterback.​