The rumor mill had been churning about Jimmy Garoppolo possibly hanging up his cleats for good at age 34. But according to the latest intel, the veteran signal-caller isn't ready to walk away from the game just yet.
Garoppolo, a former second-round pick out of Eastern Illinois, has carved out a solid career since entering the league in 2014. With 64 starts under his belt, he's completed 67.4% of his passes for 15,828 yards and 96 touchdowns. Most of that production came during his stint with the San Francisco 49ers, but he also collected two Super Bowl rings as a member of the New England Patriots.
His most recent work saw him serve as Matthew Stafford's backup with the Los Angeles Rams over the past two seasons. While he didn't attempt a pass in 2025, he did manage 334 yards and two touchdowns in his lone start of 2024.
There was plenty of chatter that Garoppolo might call it a career this offseason, especially with his days as a starter for a playoff contender seemingly behind him. But NFL Network's Mike Garafolo has poured cold water on those retirement whispers.
“Jimmy Garoppolo back in April, Ian Rapoport reported that he was considering retirement … Here’s my understanding with Jimmy G, in the right situation, he will come back, and he will play football. He has not decided to retire. He just needed some time to himself this offseason, and now he is refreshed and renewed,” Garafolo said. “I don’t think anything is imminent. I wouldn’t expect him to sign with anybody. Maybe it’s going to have to be an injury to a quarterback, and all of a sudden you need a veteran guy to come in and be part of the mix, if not the starter. Jimmy Garoppolo is not retiring from my understanding; he will continue to play.”
So where might Garoppolo land? The Rams already have Ty Simpson and Stetson Bennett as backup options, so a return to Los Angeles seems unlikely. One potential suitor could be the New York Jets, who might want a seasoned pro behind Geno Smith. And with training camps opening across the league, there's always the chance a mystery team loses a quarterback to injury and comes calling.
Garoppolo's patience could pay off. He's not desperate—he's waiting for the right fit. And with the NFL season approaching, that call might come sooner than later. For now, the two-time Super Bowl champ is keeping his options open and his retirement plans on hold.
