The Rams have provided strong cover for quarterback Matthew Stafford with former Patriots and Raiders line caller Jimmy Garoppolo a new acquisition.
Garoppolo will be backup, much like he was when he first signed out if the draft, covering for Tom Brady at the Patriots.
He is excited at the prospect of working with head coach Sean McVay.
“We’ve talked a bunch after games,” Garoppolo said. “Last year when I was with the Raiders, got to practice here against the Rams. We talked after a couple of those practices. He’s always just been a very perceptive guy. He sees a lot of things, sees it very well, sees it for what it is and that’s a big part of how I got here.
“I think he had a vision, talked me through it, really just explained what he saw my role as, and just his football knowledge. I’ve heard it from so many different players and coaches, but to be here firsthand and get to experience it, that’s what I’m really excited about.”
Garoppolo famously signed for the Patriots as the 62nd overall draft pick in 2014 and after ‘Deflategate’ he started well as Brady served a four-match suspension.
Garoppolo moved to the 49ers towards the end of 2017 and took the then 1-10 team to five successive wins.
He led San Francisco to the Superbowl LIV in 2019 and to the NFC Championship game in 2021.
He is excited to play for the Rams and emulate the performance of players like Baker Mayfield across the league.
“I mean, what Baker did, that was tremendous, incredible,” Garoppolo said. “Sean’s a phenomenal offensive mind and a lot of the guys around here are, and I think that played a big part in reinventing, whatever you want to call it, a quarterback, having good people around you. It’s not all going to be done by you. You got to have the people around you to put you in a good position, call the right plays, all those little things.
“And yeah, I saw this opportunity and I got excited. It just seemed right.”
His time was blighted by injuries, and he moved to the Raiders for a year, and while he did not shine brightly, he believes the move to the Rams will pay dividends.
