Garoppolo thanks Yorks after joining the Raiders
A day after Jimmy Garoppolo’s introductory news conference in the Las Vegas area was postponed and his contract remained unsigned, inspiring jokes about whether he’d ever officially leave the San Francisco 49ers, the quarterback became a Raider.
Sporting a black dress shirt and a black blazer with his new team’s logo, Garoppolo met the media in Henderson, Nev., after a one-day delay and began by acknowledging his employer for the past five-plus seasons.
“I just want to thank the Yorks,” Garoppolo said of 49ers owners Denise and John York, and their son Jed, who is the team’s CEO. “Thank the 49ers for everything that they’ve done. My time there was awesome. Enjoyed it. Lots of ups and downs. It was a fun time. Moving on to the next chapter of my life. And can’t wait to get started in Vegas.”
The bulk of Garoppolo’s 16-minute news conference was focused on his future after he signed a three-year, $67 million deal that he indicated wasn’t finalized until Friday due to contract “language.” However, he did discuss parallels to his past.
The most obvious? Garoppolo, 31, could have a highly drafted rookie QB on the roster in fewer than two months, two years after the 49ers selected Trey Lance with the No. 3 pick to serve as his eventual replacement. Garoppolo spent his final two seasons with the 49ers as their non-franchise QB after he unexpectedly restructured his contract in August to stay and he opened the season as Lance’s backup.
The Raiders could use their No. 7 pick in next month’s draft on a QB. And the structure of Garoppolo’s contract wouldn’t necessarily preclude them from replacing him after one season.
Garoppolo didn’t answer directly when asked if he expected to be the long-term starter.
“I’m coming in with the mind-set that I need to earn everything,” Garoppolo said. “I don’t want to be given any ‘you’re the franchise guy’ or whatever. I want to come in and earn it.”
Garoppolo is coming into a situation that should feel familiar. He’s now part of a storied franchise with multiple Super Bowl titles that has fallen on hard times.
In December 2017, when Garoppolo made his first start with the 49ers, they were 1-10 and had lost 39 of their previous 48 games. Garoppolo played an instrumental role in the 49ers’ renaissance, going 38-17 as a starter. He became the fourth QB in franchise history to win four postseason games.However, the 49ers’ inability to win an NFL title explained why he didn’t hesitate Friday when asked if he still had something to prove after nine seasons.
“Hell, yeah,” Garoppolo said. “I’m trying to win a Super Bowl. I know every player says that when they come up to their first press conference. But I want to get a ring. And get the silver and black back to where it should be. I know it’s not an easy process. I went through it in San Francisco. (We were at) the lower end of the (league) when I first got there. It’s a process. But it will be worth it.”
Garoppolo does own two Super Bowl rings, but those came during his first three seasons with the Patriots when he was Tom Brady’s backup. He came close to being in a similar situation last season when he suffered a broken foot in early December; Garoppolo had a chance to return as rookie Brock Purdy’s backup if the 49ers reached the Super Bowl. But his tenure ended when he watched their 31-7 loss to the Eagles in the NFC Championship Game from the sideline in street clothes.
Garoppolo missed 30 games due to injuries with the 49ers, also missing time to knee, ankle, calf and thumb issues.
Garoppolo isn’t unfamiliar with his new city due to family visits to see his grandparents, who lived in Las Vegas for more than a decade.
Their advice to Garoppolo? The former member of the red and gold caught himself after joking they gave him counsel on casino gambling.
“‘Go red,’ ” Garoppolo said. “No, I’m kidding. They said, ‘Go black.’ ”