“Behind every exquisite thing that existed, there was something tragic.” --Oscar Wilde, The Portrait of Dorian Gray
One of the sharpest looking and most successful quarterbacks in the past decade in the NFL is also one of the most maligned and tragic figures during that same stretch. A former future star in New England, turned potential franchise savior on the opposite coast, no one instills more confidence while also failing in the clutch like our old pal, Jimmy Garoppolo.
Everything about Garoppolo reeks of sports star. He’s tall, confident, handsome, exudes charm, throws a nice pass and is loved by teammates. He has all the makings of IT -- the unquantifiable something that leaders, stars and champions need. On most days you could ask Garoppolo how it feels to be him and he’d likely answer in signature style, “Feels great, baby.” And it should! He’s Jimmy Freakin’ Garoppolo.
And yet here we are, the day after his latest postseason failure, his future under center uncertain and a growing reputation of coming up short in the clutch following him wherever he next goes. He’s a two-time Super Bowl champion with the Patriots and took his team to a Super Bowl and a NFC Championship in just over four years in San Francisco, and yet he’s likely played his last game in the Bay Area.
For someone who seems to have it all and been put/put himself in position to succeed at the highest level, there’s a tragic element to Garoppolo when the lights are brightest and the stage is biggest that now seems to define him over his pedigree, charm, record or looks.
Few have had his opportunities or seemed destined for success like Garoppolo. He was drafted in 2014 to one day be Tom Brady’s replacement, groomed under Bill Belichick and Josh McDaniels, shining during his brief opportunity in New England in 2016 (oh, but those 5.5 quarters!). Yet an injury cut short his 2016 audition, and he was ultimately dealt away in 2017 when Brady proved competitively ageless. He was sent packing to Brady’s childhood team, the San Francisco 49ers. Two Super Bowl rings and an unrealized opportunity in tow, Garoppolo went 5-0 that season, immediately instilling hope in the 49ers faithful that they had found their man.
Yet early in 2018, a knee injury ended his season. His return in 2019 helped the 49ers go all the way to the Super Bowl, a massive success by any standards. And yet all people talk about is how Garoppolo missed Emmanuel Sanders on a deep back late in the game, a game where his defense let him down, allowing 21 unanswered points in the fourth quarter. 2020 was another injury-marred season, leading the 49ers to trade multiple first-round picks to move up in the 2021 draft and select Trey Lance to be the future of the 49ers at QB. Garoppolo’s answer was to lead the Niners back to the playoffs, all the way to the NFC Championship where again his team held a lead late and somehow blew it, Garoppolo unable to deliver when his team needed an answer yet again.
Many are quick to blame Garoppolo when in reality he didn’t drop that easy interception against the Rams that could have sealed the win. And his coach has been equally bad, if not worse when it counts.
Garoppolo has a record of 35-15 as a starter in San Francisco and it is 8-27 without him during that same timeframe. Yet it’s the latter stat that’s more telling, with Garoppolo’s fragility coupled with his late-game inability likely sealing his fate in San Francisco. He’s also never had a signature playoff win where he played lights out or dominated in the passing game, San Francisco often winning with defense and running (remember he only threw eight passes in the Niners previous NFC Championship win). In fact, his play has been shaky in many playoff games, wins and losses alike, leading this clip to trend during the recent Packers game that the Niners won, as well as after their NFC title loss to the Rams on Sunday.
Why can’t Garoppolo get the job done? What’s the one thing he’s missing? It’s hard to figure since, again, the facade, numbers and demeanor would lead you to think he’s the answer. That while the world lavishes praise on other rising star QBs like Josh Allen and Justin Herbert, it’s Garoppolo who has the rings and resume and deserves more love. And yet, we know he didn’t earn the rings. Brady lead the comebacks in Super Bowls 49 and 51 while Garoppolo was on the sideline. And when Garoppolo had his chance to earn his own rings? He didn’t come through.
When you seem to have it all you’re an easy target when you fail. And QBs always get too much credit and too much blame. Sadly being a passenger to titles and missing out on his own opportunities may be what defines the tragic beauty of Garoppolo’s career. We don’t know where he’ll play his next game, or if he’ll ever be able to get back to the Super Bowl or even the playoffs. One thing is for sure; few look better not getting the job done than Jimmy Garoppolo.