Jimmy Garoppolo, the new backup quarterback for the Los Angeles Rams, is feeling right at home in his first training camp with the team. The former San Francisco 49ers and New England Patriots quarterback expressed his excitement about joining the Rams after being cut by the Las Vegas Raiders.
In an interview with TheAthletic.com, Garoppolo credited Rams head coach Sean McVay and starting quarterback Matthew Stafford as the main reasons he chose to sign with the team. “This place allows you to be yourself, too, which is different than other places I’ve been,” Garoppolo said. “You’re getting pressed with a sense of urgency but in a good way. Obviously, everyone wants to win. Everyone wants to perform well. They do it in the right way here. They push you positively. There’s just a lot of good things going on, man. I’m enjoying every bit of it. Even the meetings are a good time. Everything is going good right now.”
Reflecting on his past experiences with different coaches and organizations, Garoppolo acknowledged the ups and downs of his career. “It was chaotic at times, but they’re all learning experiences,” he said. “That’s one thing I’ve taken from this. The NFL is crazy, man. Everyone has got a story. Everyone is going whichever way trying to make it. But at the end of the day, it’s your story, and you’ve got to make the best of it. Good, bad, or indifferent, whatever happened in the past, it happened. . . . Now I’m here, and I’m just trying to make every day the best day.”
Garoppolo’s journey with the Rams will start with a two-game suspension for violating the NFL performance-enhancing substance policy. However, he is looking forward to reestablishing his role as a backup quarterback when he returns to the active roster in Week Three. Garoppolo is optimistic about his future with the Rams and eager to contribute to the team’s success on the field.