by Keagan Stiefel
9 hours ago
Las Vegas will host a New England Patriots reunion in 2023, as Raiders newcomer Jimmy Garoppolo joins head coach Josh McDaniels in a bid to turn the tables on the franchise.
Garoppolo was introduced as the Raiders’ new quarterback on Friday, signaling the start of a new era in Vegas after longtime caller Derek Carr left for the New Orleans Saints this offseason. The presser was supposed to launch the future, but before anyone else did, the 31-year-old took a trip down memory lane.
Garoppolo recounted how he met McDaniels at his introductory conference, detailing his pre-draft visit with the Patriots in the spring of 2014.
“I don’t know if it was planned, but I swear he planned it – Tom Brady came in,” Garoppolo said, according to ESPN’s Paul Gutierrez. “And I thought that would throw me off a bit because I had never met him before, and a little dazzled. But yeah, he came out and Josh continued with the teaching. That was our first interaction.
The Garoppolo-Brady relationship has been successful for the Patriots, who won two Super Bowls during the backup’s three seasons in New England. Eventually, however, reports of conflicts would come after Garoppolo was traded.
In the years between Garoppolo and McDaniels’ unions, the quarterback would go 40-17 in passing for 14,289 yards, 87 touchdowns and 42 interceptions while completing 67.6% of his attempts in 74 games – leading the San 49ers Francisco to an appearance at Super Bowl LIV. McDaniels won another Super Bowl with the Patriots before finally leaving for Las Vegas last season.
Now they will finally get the chance to have a full-time quarterback offensive play calling relationship.