Jimmy Garoppolo, an accomplished American football quarterback of Italian descent, is a well-known figure in the National Football League (NFL), currently playing for the San Francisco 49ers. Chosen by the New England Patriots in the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft, Garoppolo’s exceptional passing skills and game management sets him apart. This article highlights vital aspects of Garoppolo’s life and career, from his early years to the present.
The Earlier Years: Jimmy Garoppolo
Born on 2 November 1991 in Illinois, USA, into an American-Italian family, James Richard Garoppolo is one of four sons of Tony and Denise Garoppolo. His father’s lineage traces back to Italy, while his mother’s family hails from Poland and Germany. His childhood was comfortable, thanks to his father’s profession as an electrician. He began playing football at Rolling Meadows High School, where he excelled as a quarterback.
Collegiate Success: Jimmy Garoppolo
Jimmy Garoppolo pursued higher education at the University of Eastern Illinois, where he played for the Panthers. From his first year itself, he was a consistent starter and had numerous achievements under his belt. This included winning the All-Ohio Valley Conference Newcomer Team honours and setting a record for the highest number of passing yards in a single season. His exceptional performance earned him the 2013 Walter Payton Award, the 2013 FCS National Quarterback of the Year, and the 2013–14 OVC Male Athlete of the Year. Overall, he accumulated over 12,000 passing yards and 118 touchdowns during his time with the Panthers.
Professional NFL Career: Jimmy Garoppolo
New England Patriots (2014–2017)
In the 2014 NFL Draft, Jimmy Garoppolo was the 62nd player to be selected, and the first quarterback chosen by the New England Patriots since 1993. Shortly after, he signed a four-year deal worth $3.48 million with the Patriots. His professional debut against the Kansas City Chiefs was a memorable one, as he led the Patriots in scoring and earned his first career touchdown. Throughout the 2014 season, he completed 19 passes, totaling 182 yards and one touchdown. Despite not playing, Garoppolo was part of the Patriots’ Super Bowl XLIX victory.
Garoppolo’s participation in the 2015 season was limited, only playing in five games. However, due to the suspension of Tom Brady following the “Deflategate scandal”, he stepped up as the starting quarterback at the beginning of the 2016 season. Despite facing an injury and having to step back before Brady’s return, his record stood at 24 completed passes out of 33 attempts for 498 yards, with 4 touchdowns. He also took part in the Patriots’ victory over the Falcons in Super Bowl LI.
Jimmy Garoppolo began the subsequent season as a Patriot but was later traded to the San Francisco 49ers in October 2017.
San Francisco 49ers (2017–present)
Upon joining the 49ers, Garoppolo made his first appearance against Seattle Seahawks, followed by his first starting game against the Chicago Bears. Garoppolo scored his first career rushing touchdown against Jacksonville Jaguars. He became known for maintaining a winning streak in his initial seven consecutive starts. Garoppolo concluded the 2017 season with impressive stats, earning him the 90th position in the
Garoppolo signed a significant contract extension with the 49ers worth $137.5 million, which was the highest in the NFL at the time. An injury sidelined him early in the 2018 season, leading to a disappointing year for the team. In 2019, he showcased his skills upon return from injury, earning the title of NFC Offensive Player of the Week during the 14th week of the regular season. Despite a setback in 2018 due to his injury, his performance in 2019 proved him to be a strong comeback player. However, the team fell short in the Super Bowl LIV against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Jimmy Garoppolo Private life, Relationships & Interesting Facts
Garoppolo is known to be quite private off the field. While reports suggest he is dating Boston model Alexandra King, Garoppolo himself remains largely inactive on social media. As a former colleague of Patriots’ quarterback legend Tom Brady, Garoppolo often gets questioned about personal experiences they may have shared, particularly relating to their love lives. Nonetheless, he chooses to keep such details confidential.
Jimmy Garropolo’s Marital Status
According to several reports, Jimmy Garoppolo, the charismatic quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers, is currently single and has not walked down the aisle yet. His dating history is quite unclear, with most of his romantic relationships kept private.
Jimmy Garoppolo and Alexandra King
In 2017, rumors surfaced about a possible romantic connection between Jimmy and Alexandra King. The model solidified these rumors by posting a picture with Garoppolo on Valentine’s Day 2018, where she referred to him as her ‘valentine.’ They were spotted at Disneyland a month later, sharing intimate moments together. Despite Alexandra’s public display of affection, Jimmy dismissed their relationship as a mere casual friendship in a Bleacher Report interview. After images of Garoppolo having dinner with adult film star Kiara Mia surfaced, Alexandra ended their relationship and wiped all traces of Garoppolo from her Instagram account. Later in 2018, Garoppolo sustained a season-ending ACL injury, a situation King responded to with an Instagram post captioned ‘karma,’ seemingly implying that he got what he deserved.
Jimmy Garoppolo and Kiara Mia
Following his high-profile signing of a $137 million contract with the San Francisco 49ers, NFL player Jimmy Garoppolo was spotted dining with Kiara Mia in Beverly Hills in mid-2018. Their happy demeanor and departure together from the restaurant sparked speculation of a romantic relationship, leading to Garoppolo’ s split from Alexandra King. Yet, both Jimmy and Mia dismissed these rumors, with Mia clarifying in an interview that their meeting was friendly, not romantic. If they were indeed a couple, the age gap between 26-year-old Garoppolo and 41-year-old Mia would be noteworthy.