The Los Angeles Rams need a backup for starting quarterback and reigning Most Valuable Player Matthew Stafford, but Jimmy Garoppolo continues to move closer to not returning than donning the royal and Sol again.
LA has been Garoppolo’s NFL home for the past two seasons, and he was particularly valuable last offseason amid Stafford’s back injury.
Now, though, the Rams could be in a tricky situation.
Rams Get Unfortunate Update on Jimmy Garoppolo
GettyJimmy Garoppolo #11 of the Los Angeles Rams looks on before the NFC Wild Card Playoff game against the Carolina Panthers.
Garoppolo has started one of the four games that he has played in with the Rams. He is 0-1 as QB1 for LA.
A former fourth-round draft pick of the New England Patriots who won two Super Bowls as a backup and went to another as a starter, Garoppolo does not exactly have much left to prove in his career.
That could lead him to make the final career decision.
“#Rams free agent QB Jimmy Garoppolo, considered their top option as backup QB, is considering retirement, sources say,” NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported in a post on X on April 20. “Jimmy G, who has started 64 games during a 12-year career, has made over $156M in all. He is 34 and is mulling a final decision.”
Garoppolo turns 35 in November. He has completed 67.4% of his passes for 15,828 yards, 96 touchdowns, and 52 interceptions across 12 seasons.
He is 43-21 as a starter in the NFL, including stints with the Las Vegas Raiders and San Francisco 49ers. Garoppolo was expected to follow former Rams offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur to the Arizona Cardinals, where the latter was hired as head coach this offseason.
Instead, the Cardinals signed Gardner Minshew and still have Jacoby Brissett.
That leaves few options on the table for Garoppolo, who was also linked to the Green Bay Packers after Malik Willis signed with the Miami Dolphins in free agency.
Rams Not Expecting Jimmy Garoppolo Back
GettyJimmy Garoppolo #11 of the Los Angeles Rams warms up before the game against the Tennessee Titans.
Rapoport’s report noted that Garoppolo is still considering his options, but Rams head coach Sean McVay has spoken candidly about the situation.
“McVay said he would ‘love’ to have Jimmy Garoppolo return as back-up QB,” the LA Times’ Gary Klein reported on X in March. But ‘At this point, when there hasn’t been a decision, it feels less likely than likely but I don’t want to rule that out.”
At the time, the Rams were also openly courting Kirk Cousins.
Cousins ultimately signed with the Raiders, opting for an opportunity to start ahead of presumed No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza for a season.
That has left the Rams with limited veteran options who inspire any level of confidence that they would be able to keep the operation running smoothly should something happen to Stafford, as it did last offseason.
Then, LA turned to Garoppolo, who guided them through training camp and the preseason.
They might not have that luxury this coming offseason and season, and they currently only have Stetson Bennett IV under contract behind Stafford.
The Rams have been linked to multiple quarterbacks in the 2026 draft class, and that could prove to be their best option if they are not confident in Bennett, who enters the final season of his rookie contract set to turn 29 during the season without regular-season experience.
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