Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay makes a strong stance on Jimmy Garoppolo's return ahead of free agency.
Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay is a big fan of backup quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo.
When speaking to the media on Tuesday, McVay made a strong stance on Garoppolo's return to the team. He is set to be a free agent next week, but the soon-to-be nine-year head coach made it clear that he wants him back in the horns.
"I love Jimmy. Would absolutely love him back," McVay said.
Last offseason, Garoppolo signed a one-year contract with the Rams. The expectation was that he could have received some starts in 2025 due to Matthew Stafford's mysterious back issues that arose during training camp.
Many thought that Stafford would miss some or even most of the season; instead, he played the best football of his career at the age of 37 and won his first career MVP.
Garoppolo didn't play one snap in 2025, remaining as the backup to the potential future Hall of Famer. Despite remaining a backup, he could end up landing with a team that needs a starter.
McVay did joke around the media, saying that new Arizona Cardinals head coach Mike LaFluer wants to steal Garoppolo.
The Cardinals are among the teams that could snag up the 34-year-old free agent. ESPN's Jeremy Fowler listed the Cardinals as a potential landing spot for Garoppolo.
“Free agent Jimmy Garoppolo heading to Arizona is a strong option, too," Fowler wrote. "The Cardinals have interest, and Mike LaFleur is considered very close with Garoppolo. “That’s his guy,” a league source said. LaFleur can create a clean path to restart his quarterback room by adding at least one veteran and drafting a QB. That makes Murray and Brissett expendable, and the feeling in Indy is that Murray wants out of Arizona.”
Garoppolo has served as the backup for the past few seasons, but he has been a starting quarterback in the league and has thrived. He holds a career regular season record of 43-21 with a 67 percent winning percentage. He won most of his games as the starter for the San Francisco 49ers.
In the postseason, Garoppolo has a 4-2 record as the starter. He helped lead the 2019 49ers to the Super Bowl, but fell short against the Kansas City Chiefs.
The Rams' backup quarterback situation will be at the forefront once again, with Stafford another year older.
The competition for Garoppolo may be stiff, but it appears McVay is hellbent on keeping the veteran around.