Jimmy Garoppolo’s stint with the Las Vegas Raiders is likely to end after receiving a two-game ban for breaching the league’s Performance Enhancing Substances Policy.
While he may choose a team to join in free agency, Garoppolo is in a tight spot.
He has a significant injury history, and his performance on the field is plainly declining. According to Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated, he is unlikely to sign with a team as a long-term starter, but he also does not make sense as a backup.
“That leaves maybe a bridge-quarterback situation or coming in like Jay Cutler or Joe Flacco did, as a quick-fix starter in an emergency, as the paths for Garoppolo back into playing in 2024,” Breer wrote in his column on Feb. 19. “And after appearing content to play out the string in the shadows last year, some wonder if he’ll still want to do so or if, after ten years in the NFL, he’s satisfied with what he’s accomplished.
“As it is, Garoppolo’s had a pretty interesting run, first as a pivotal figure in the twilight of the Patriots dynasty, where he’d been positioned as Brady’s replacement, and then as the guy that led the Niners to a Super Bowl at the beginning of the Shanahan Era, only to become somebody San Francisco fervently looked to substitute.
Breer then suggested that retirement could be a viable option.
“If this is the final chapter for Garoppolo, the story he’s written sure hasn’t been boring,” he said.
Will Jimmy Garoppolo Retire?
According to Albert Breer’s blog, numerous coaches who have worked with Jimmy Garoppolo have expressed irritation with his aloofness. It’s fair to wonder if he’s still passionate about football. Spotrac reports that he has previously earned $148 million in NFL contracts, indicating a lack of financial need.
However, Garoppolo is only 31 years old, and many teams might benefit from his skills. Once he reaches a certain age, he will no longer be able to play football, therefore he may want to play for a few more years to let it all out on the field. It’s also plausible that he will remain in free agency before the 2024 season begins, waiting to see whether an appealing starting quarterback position becomes available.
