Jimmy Garoppolo

Golden Nuggets

• Is a two-time Super Bowl champion (XLIX & LI) as a member of the New England Patriots. Registered 13,089 yards in total offense at Eastern Illinois, joining New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton (10,298 yards; 1983-86) as the only players in EIU history to generate at least 10,000 yards in total offense.
• Following his senior season at Eastern Illinois in 2013, was named the Walter Payton Award winner. The Award is given to the most outstanding offensive player in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision.
• In addition to Garoppolo, Eastern Illinois has produced a fair share of NFL products including Mike Shanahan, former Super Bowl winning NFL head coach and father of current 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan, Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Pace, New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton and former Dallas Cowboys QB and current TV analyst Tony Romo. Brother, Mike, played linebacker at Western Illinois (2007-11).

Awards & Honors

• 2017: FedEx Air Player of the Week (Week 15), Castrol EDGE Clutch Performer of the Week (Week 15 & 16)
• 2019: NFC Offensive Player of the Week (Week 14), Sporting News Comeback Player of the Year

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Golden Nuggets

• Is a two-time Super Bowl champion (XLIX & LI) as a member of the New England Patriots. Registered 13,089 yards in total offense at Eastern Illinois, joining New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton (10,298 yards; 1983-86) as the only players in EIU history to generate at least 10,000 yards in total offense.
• Following his senior season at Eastern Illinois in 2013, was named the Walter Payton Award winner. The Award is given to the most outstanding offensive player in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision.
• In addition to Garoppolo, Eastern Illinois has produced a fair share of NFL products including Mike Shanahan, former Super Bowl winning NFL head coach and father of current 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan, Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Pace, New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton and former Dallas Cowboys QB and current TV analyst Tony Romo. Brother, Mike, played linebacker at Western Illinois (2007-11).

Awards & Honors

• 2017: FedEx Air Player of the Week (Week 15), Castrol EDGE Clutch Performer of the Week (Week 15 & 16)
• 2019: NFC Offensive Player of the Week (Week 14), Sporting News Comeback Player of the Year

Career Highlights:

• With a 34-31 victory vs. LAR (12/21/19) Garoppolo improved to 20-5 as a starter in the NFL, becoming the 6th QB in the Super Bowl era to win at least 20 of his first 25 career starts.
• His 67.6 career completion percentage as a member of the 49ers ranks 1st in franchise history (min. 500 atts.).
• With a 99.2 career quarterback rating as a member of the 49ers, Garoppolo ranks 2nd in franchise history (min. 500 atts.).
• According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Garoppolo is 1 of 5 QBs to win their 1st seven NFL starts since the merger in 1970.
• With wins in each of his 1st five starts with the 49ers [15-14 at Chi. (12/3/17); 26-16 at Hou. (12/10/17); 25-23 vs. Ten. (12/17/17); 44-33 vs. Jax. (12/24/17); 34-13 at LAR (12/31)], he became the 1st 49ers QB since the merger in 1970 to win each of his 1st five starts with the team.
• With wins at Chi. (12/3/17), at Hou. (12/10/17) and at LAR (12/31), he is the 3rd 49ers QB since the merger in 1970 to win each of his 1st three road starts. QB Elvis Grbac won each of his 1st four road starts from 1995-96 and QB Jim Plunkett won his 1st three starts on the road in 1976.
• In his 1st start as a member of the 49ers, completed 26 of 37 atts. for a career-high 293 yds. at Chi. (12/3/17). According to the Elias Sports Bureau, his 293 passing yds. set the franchise record for most passing yds. by a player in his 1st start with the team.
• His 1,542 passing yds. in his 1st five starts with the team are the most by a 49ers QB in his 1st five starts in franchise history.
• His 1,542 passing yds. through his 1st five starts with the 49ers ranks 4th among all QBs in their 1st five starts with a new team since the merger in 1970.
• His 2,038 passing yds. through his 1st seven NFL starts ranks 5th among all QBs since the merger in 1970.
• Became just the 5th QB in the last 30 years to make his 1st regular season start in a season-opening night game (9/11/16 vs. Arz.). Packers QB Aaron Rodgers was the last (2008, win vs. Minnesota), with Chargers QB Philip Rivers (2006) and former NFL QBs David Carr (2002) and Brian Griese (1999) before him. He finished 24 of 33 for 264 yds. and 1 TD.
• Helped the Patriots set a NFL record for fewest INTs in a single season (2 INTs on 550 atts. in 2016).

Goldmine:

• As a kid in suburban Chicago, Garoppolo and his three brothers occasionally rose early to join their dad, Tony, at his job. Tony is now a retired union electrician, with his career spanning more than 40 years. Working hard to support his family of six, Tony instilled his work ethic he had into Jimmy. "But it was that blue-collar mentality. When you're raised like that, you don't know any different. All I knew was hard work, and it translates over to football." In May of 2019, Jimmy and Tony went to the Silicon Valley Career Technical Education Center in San Jose to speak to and congratulate over 90 recent high school graduates who decided to pursue a career in a skilled trade. A take on national signing day for high school athletes, each person would sign papers at a table, be rewarded with a cap and announce at the podium what trade they would follow. The event encourages students to take up a skill trade, something that doesn't require a four-year university. "This can help set the path earlier in kids' lives — they want to be in trades and they can get started in high school," Garoppolo said. "It can require a blue-collar mentality, and some people don't have that — but I'm glad I grew up that way."
• NFL players had the opportunity to participate in the NFL's annual My Cause, My Cleats campaign during Week 14 of the 2019 season. Garoppolo and his teammates represented their respective causes with custom-designed cleats in an effort to raise awareness and funding. Garoppolo represented Make-A-Wish Greater Bay Area, and said, "I play for the kids who inspire me with their strength and courage."
• Garoppolo continued his giving theme in 2019, partnering with Men's Wearhouse on a suit drive, asking for donations of gently used suits, shirts, jackets, ties, slacks and shoes. The professional attire for men and women were passed along to local non-profit organizations, who provided them to those looking to re-enter the workplace. Done along with résumé-writing workshops, interview preparation courses and employment training programs, the objective is to create a confident job candidate, someone who shows up for an interview feeling well-prepared and looking the part. "It's kind of related to the football mentality of, look-good, feel-good, play-good," Garoppolo said of the drive. "You go in there with a suit and you're feeling good about yourself and your confidence is up, obviously you're going to perform better."
• Prior to Week 2's matchup in Cincinnati during the 2019 season, the 49ers spent time in Youngstown, OH, where they participated in the Community Blitz. Garoppolo and some of his teammates visited the Akron Children's hospital as players went from room to room to visit and meet some of the young patients.
• During the 2019 offseason, members of the 49ers took park in the Second Annual Picnic on the Field, located on the Levi's Stadium field. Garoppolo and his teammates spent the day taking pictures with fans, who enjoyed music, food and games in support of the 49ers Foundation. The foundation, in conjunction with NFL Huddle for 100, partnered with Amazon to fill 1,000 backpacks full of school supplies. Fans and players joined together to assemble the packs, which were distributed throughout the community to children in need.
• Garoppolo has quickly become integrated with the Bay Area and its sports franchises. Prior to Game 3 of the NHL's 2018 Western Conference Semifinals between the San Jose Sharks and Vegas Golden Knights, Garoppolo was asked to be the "honorary locker room door opener" at SAP Center in San Jose. The Sharks ask celebrities and well-respected sports figures to be the ceremonial door opener as the team heads out for final warmups and pregame introductions.
• Along with former Patriots teammate Julian Edelman, Garoppolo surprised students at Central Elementary and Cedar Elementary schools in Hanover, NJ in June of 2016. The two spent time at both schools reading to kids, sharing the importance of homework, and learning a few new touchdown dances.
• In May of 2016, Garoppolo, in partnership with AccessSportAmerica, volunteered to help at a football clinic for disabled high school students at Harvard Stadium. During the clinic, Garoppolo gave tips to participants on passing, blocking and other essential football skills. Garoppolo enjoyed the clinic so much, he returned to Harvard Stadium again in 2017 to hang out with the AccessSportAmerica students. Garoppolo said he felt honored to volunteer with AccessSportAmerica, and contribute to their efforts to inspire higher function and fitness for people living with challenges and disabilities through high-challenge sports and training.
• For fans traveling to the San Francisco Zoo, they can keep an eye out for one of the zoo's snow leopards, Jimmy G, whom the zoo chose to name after the 49ers quarterback. The zoo received both a male and female snow leopard in early 2018 and quickly found a new name. You can find Jimmy G in the enclosure outside the Lion House near the Lion Fountain.

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