Jimmy Garoppolo
A quarterback whose career was defined by brilliant promise, high-stakes trades, and a knack for winning as a starter.
Born 1991 (age 35)·American football player·Birthday: November 2·Millennials
Biography
Jimmy Garoppolo arrived in the NFL with a polished release and a winning smile, drafted by the New England Patriots as the presumed heir to Tom Brady. For three seasons, he watched and learned, collecting two Super Bowl rings in a backup role. His destiny shifted in 2017 when a stunning trade sent him to the struggling San Francisco 49ers. The effect was immediate; he won his first five starts, injecting the franchise with a hope it hadn't felt in years. Injuries became a frustrating counterpoint to his talent, but when healthy, he delivered. He led the 49ers to a Super Bowl appearance in the 2019 season, showcasing a cool, efficient style of play. His story is one of a talented player perpetually caught between potential and durability, who nonetheless left an indelible mark on every team he led.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Jimmy was born in 1991, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Jimmy Was Born
The biggest hits of 1991
#1 Movie
Terminator 2: Judgment Day
Best Picture
The Silence of the Lambs
#1 TV Show
Cheers
Jimmy's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1991Born
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1996Started school
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
2004Became a teenager
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2007Could drive
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2009Could vote
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2012Turned 21
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2021Turned 30
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2026Age 35 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Led the San Francisco 49ers to Super Bowl LIV in the 2019 season, throwing for 3,978 yards and 27 touchdowns.
- Won his first seven starts as a 49er, a franchise record for a quarterback to begin a tenure.
- Won two Super Bowl rings (XLIX, LI) as a backup quarterback for the New England Patriots.
- Set Eastern Illinois University records for career passing yards and touchdowns, winning the Walter Payton Award in 2013.
Did You Know?
His father, Tony Garoppolo, was a standout wrestler and is in the Eastern Illinois Athletics Hall of Fame.
He was a state champion wrestler in high school in Illinois before focusing solely on football.
He majored in Business Management at Eastern Illinois University.
He was traded from the Patriots to the 49ers on October 30, 2017, for a second-round draft pick.
“You've got to have a little swagger, a little confidence, but you've got to back it up.”
