Jimmy Garoppolo Embraces Role as Backup for Rams
At the age of 32, it is easy to say that his time with the Las Vegas Raiders didn’t really help much in his game at all. But now that he has found a new groove with the Los Angeles Rams heading into the 2024 season, it seems that he is eager to embrace his role as a reserve rather than to be forced to a different role in the squad.
As a two-time Super Bowl champion, Garoppolo has certainly improved his game and has shown the world why he is one of the best players in the game. A veteran in his own right, Garoppolo claimed that he is keen to show his worth in a reduced role, and he is happier about it than most people think.
It is indeed a fresh sight for a veteran who is seeking a chance to prove his worth on the big stage without taking too much of a big role. Under new head coach Sean McVay, this sure does look like a chance for Garoppolo to show that he has what it takes to help them win now more than ever.
A New Home for Garoppolo
Garoppolo enters this season with a new groove. He’s slated to play for his fourth NFL team in his career. While he is expected to miss the first two games of the season due to suspension after messing up his therapeutic use exemption, it does seem that the QB will enter this season with a reinvigorated confidence in the game.
"This place allows you to be yourself, too, which is different than other places I've been," Garoppolo said. "You're getting pressed with a sense of urgency but in a good way. Obviously, everyone wants to win. Everyone wants to perform well. They do it in the right way here. They push you positively. There's just a lot of good things going on, man. I'm enjoying every bit of it. Even the meetings are a good time. Everything is going good right now."
Garoppolo is expected to play the backup role behind Matthew Stafford. He can even play a huge role and mentor him in the coming months to help the star improve. Considering that Garoppolo himself is a proven winner in his own right, it does seem that he can make the most of his chances in the squad moving forward.
A Rollercoaster Career
Garoppolo was initially drafted by the New England Patriots as a replacement for Tom Brady in the years to come. He was traded to the San Francisco 49ers in 2017, where he went on to win most of his impressive runs in the game, leading to two Super Bowl victories over the years.
"It was chaotic at times, but they're all learning experiences," Garoppolo said of his career. "That's one thing I've taken from this. The NFL is crazy, man. Everyone has got a story. Everyone is going whichever way trying to make it. But at the end of the day, it's your story, and you've got to make the best of it. Good, bad, or indifferent, whatever happened in the past, it happened. … Now I'm here, and I'm just trying to make every day the best day."
The run with the Raiders is different than the rest. He had an unruly year with the team after signing a free-agent contract just to join his former offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels. He did go on to have foot surgery before embarking on his QB1 duties with the Raiders, which led to his struggles in the game and later on benched the same day that McDaniels was fired by the team.