Nobody knows what the future holds for veteran quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo. A second-round pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, Garoppolo is best known for his time with the San Francisco 49ers, but spent the past two seasons backing up Matthew Stafford on the Los Angeles Rams. While he hardly played over the past two seasons, he’s still considered to be one of the game’s best backups out there.
Despite this, the quarterback is currently unsigned and is openly contemplating retirement. To make the situation even messier, Los Angeles used their first-round pick on Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson. Simpson won’t challenge reigning MVP Matthew Stafford for the starting job and is presumably locked into the backup job until the former first-overall pick and one-time Super Bowl champion calls it a career. However, head coach Sean McVay won’t rule out a reunion with Jimmy Garoppolo.
“I wouldn’t say that,” McVay said, via PFT’s Mike Florio. “I don’t want to say completely closed, but I would say this. You guys know how much I appreciate Jimmy and what he could really do. I always viewed him as a starting-caliber quarterback.”
Sean McVay Speaks on Potential Jimmy Garoppolo Reunion After Ty Simpson Pick
Reading between the lines, it appears as though Sean McVay is more than comfortable with rostering Stafford, Garoppolo, and Simpson. Stafford is (rightfully) the unquestioned starter, but he’s in his late 30s and has a history of back injuries. Simpson may or may not be the quarterback of the future, but McVay’s less-than-ecstatic reaction to the selection suggests he believes the Alabama product won’t be ready for action any time soon.
Jimmy Garoppolo is no superstar, but he’s more than capable of keeping this offense afloat if Stafford has to miss a bit of time with an injury. If the veteran decides to return for one more season, Los Angeles should happily carry a three-man quarterback room throughout the 2026 season.
