Jimmy Garoppolo

James "Jimmy" Garoppolo (born November 2, 1991) is an American football quarterback for the New England Patriots of the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted by the Patriots in the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft. He played college football at Eastern Illinois.

As a senior in 2013, Garoppolo broke Tony Romo's school records for career passing touchdowns, yards and passing touchdowns in a season.^[1][2][3] He also won the Walter Payton Award that season, which goes to the best offensive player in the Football Championship Subdivision.^[4]

Early years

Garoppolo was born and raised in Arlington Heights, Illinois and attended Rolling Meadows High School in Rolling Meadows, Illinois.

College career

Garoppolo played football for the Eastern Illinois Panthers from 2010 to 2013. In his freshman year he started eight games, passing for 1,639 yards and 14 touchdowns and earning All-Ohio Valley Conference Newcomer Team honors playing under Bob Spoo. He went on to start every further game in his time at Eastern Illinois, passing for 2,644 yards and 20 touchdowns in 2011, 3,823 yards and 31 touchdowns in 2012, and 5,050 yards and 53 touchdowns in 2013, breaking the school record for career pass completions previously held by Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo.

In his senior season, Garoppolo won the Walter Payton Award, given to the most outstanding offensive player in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision under head coach Dino Babers with his uptempo no huddle offense. He was also named the 2013–14 OVC Male Athlete of the Year^[5] and the 2013 College Football Performance FCS National Quarterback of the Year.^[6]

Professional career

Garoppolo was considered one of the better quarterback prospects for the 2014 NFL Draft.^[7][8][9]

New England Patriots

Draft

The New England Patriots drafted Garoppolo in the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft, with the 62nd pick overall. Garoppolo was the first player from the Football Championship Subdivision drafted in 2014, and the highest-drafted quarterback New England had selected since Drew Bledsoe was picked first overall in 1993.

On June 3, 2014, Garoppolo signed a four-year contract with the Patriots, as mandated by the NFL's Collective Bargaining Agreement. The deal is worth a maximum of $3.48 million, with a signing bonus of $853,744 and $250,000 of his 2015 salary guaranteed.^[10]

2014 season

Garoppolo made his regular season debut during garbage time in the Patriots' Week 4 road loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday Night Football. He led the Patriots to a touchdown on a 13-yard pass to tight end Rob Gronkowski on his first drive. He finished the night completing six of seven passes for 70 yards and one touchdown, with a passer rating of 147.9.

In his rookie season, Garoppolo played in 6 games. He completed 19 of 27 passes for 182 yards and a touchdown with a 101.2 passer rating and had 10 rushing attempts for 9 yards. While Garoppolo did not take any snaps in the New England Patriots' Super Bowl XLIX win, he was credited with helping to prepare the Patriots defense for Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson.^[11]

References

External links

• Eastern Illinois Panthers bio