HENDERSON, Nev. — The primary time Jimmy Garoppolo met Josh McDaniels? Garoppolo was on a pre-draft go to with the New England Patriots within the spring of 2014 and McDaniels, then the Patriots’ offensive coordinator, was operating the quarterback by way of his offense on the whiteboard.
“I do not know if it was deliberate, however I swear he deliberate it — Tom Brady walked in,” Garoppolo, laughing, mentioned Friday. “And I believed it will throw me off somewhat bit as a result of I had by no means met him earlier than, and somewhat starstruck. However yeah, he walked out, and Josh saved going with the instructing. That was our first interplay.”
The Garoppolo-McDaniels reunion, 9 years later and in Las Vegas, had been delayed a day due to some last-minute contract “language,” Garoppolo mentioned in his 17-minute introductory information convention with the Raiders. The 2 sides on Monday had agreed in precept to a three-year, $67.5 million free agent deal that features $34 million assured.
Garoppolo, 31, replaces Derek Carr, who had been the Raiders starter since 2014 however was benched with two video games remaining final season by McDaniels, in his first 12 months as Raiders coach. Carr, who holds most Raiders profession franchise passing data, stayed away from the group to finish the season and was launched on Feb. 14. He has since signed with the New Orleans Saints.
With a profession regular-season file of 40-17, Garoppolo has handed for 14,289 yards and 87 touchdowns with 42 interceptions whereas finishing 67.6% of his makes an attempt in 74 video games. He has additionally performed in seven playoff video games, going 4-2 as a starter, together with a Tremendous Bowl LIV loss to the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs.
Nonetheless, with Garoppolo’s harm historical past — he missed his last 5 video games with the San Francisco 49ers due to a Lisfranc harm to his left foot, and he has performed just one full season as a starter (lacking 30 video games in San Francisco with numerous ankle, shoulder, thumb and knee accidents) — hypothesis emerged there was a problem together with his bodily in Las Vegas. Sources indicated that was not a problem.
Garoppolo mentioned All-Professional receiver Davante Adams had already reached out, as had two-time Professional Bowl defensive finish Maxx Crosby whereas operating into middle Andre James within the group facility.
Garoppolo can also be reuniting with receiver Phillip Dorsett, who signed with the Raiders this week; the 2 had been briefly teammates in New England.
“He is a winner,” Dorsett mentioned. “In every single place he is been, he is gained video games. I imply, I really feel like that is a very powerful stat for quarterbacks, simply going on the market and simply profitable and making the correct performs on the proper time … his file speaks for itself. He is a man that performs the sport the correct means. He goes on the market, he makes the correct play, he makes a wise play, and he is a winner and I really like enjoying with him.
“I used to be solely with him for somewhat bit in New England and he left that massive of an impression on me.”
Mentioned Garoppolo: “I am coming with the mindset that I must earn all the things — I do not need to be given any ‘You are the franchise man,’ or no matter. I need to are available and earn it. I believe it can come by way of onerous work, working with the teammates, being within the facility. All these little issues will play a job. However yeah, I do not need to be given something; I need to earn it.
“Simply because I am the quarterback, I am not the chief due to that. I need to be the chief as a result of guys respect me and consider in me. … I believe it can occur naturally. I do not need to power something, be inauthentic. I simply need to be myself and it is executed me properly prior to now.”
Garoppolo, who added he wished to be “actual and passionate,” mentioned his familiarity with McDaniels and his scheme was a serious draw, despite the fact that he final performed in it six years in the past. He spent the previous six seasons with the 49ers after being acquired in a 2017 commerce deadline deal.
As such, Garoppolo acknowledged he should relearn the language of the offense.
“Mainly, like going Spanish to French,” he mentioned. “It will not take lengthy however Josh’s offense, clearly, has developed over time and you have simply obtained to choose it up as shortly as attainable. However we’ll be high-quality.”
Garoppolo mentioned he was greeted warmly by Las Vegas followers whereas strolling by way of the Mandalay Bay on line casino together with his household to have dinner at Stripsteak on Thursday evening.
“The place,” he mentioned, “was going loopy.”
Requested if he nonetheless had one thing to show in his profession, Garoppolo nodded.
“Hell yeah,” he mentioned. “I am attempting to win a Tremendous Bowl. I do know each participant says that once they come as much as their first press convention, however that is my purpose — get a hoop, get the Silver and Black again to the place it needs to be.
“I do know it isn’t a straightforward course of. I have been by way of it. In San Francisco, [the 49ers were] decrease finish of the sector after I first obtained there, [so] it is a course of. However will probably be price it.”
