NFL insider floats Jimmy Garoppolo as potential 'bridge quarterback' for Rams
Albert Breer says the door is still likely open for Jimmy Garoppolo to return to the Rams, and he could be a bridge QB when Matthew Stafford retires.
The Los Angeles Rams have yet to find a backup quarterback after letting Jimmy Garoppolo test free agency. Technically, they do have Stetson Bennett, but it’s abundantly clear the Rams don’t trust him to be their QB2 in 2026. A month into free agency, Garoppolo remains available and there have been no firm reports about any teams besides the Rams showing interest in the veteran signal caller.
It seems logical that he’d return to Los Angeles as Matthew Stafford’s backup, and there’s a chance he could be even more than that. NFL insider Albert Breer said the door is still open for Garoppolo to re-sign with the Rams, potentially even as a bridge quarterback for whenever Stafford decides to retire. Jimmy Garoppolo is still available, and I think, at this stage of his career, the likelihood is that he’ll find a place as a high-end backup.
His experience with the Rams was a good one, and I’d think that door would still be open, and perhaps set him up to be a bridge quarterback whenever Matthew Stafford decides to walk away. When there was a slight possibility that the Rams would trade Stafford last offseason, Garoppolo had his name floated as a potential short-term option. The coaching staff fully trusts him and believes in him, especially after he put together a strong showing in the 2024 season finale when Stafford rested.
Garoppolo is 34 so he’s not much younger than Stafford, but he doesn’t appear to be approaching retirement the way Matthew is. The Rams could draft a quarterback this year and let him sit for a year before taking over for Stafford in 2027 (or 2028, if Stafford keeps playing), but in a weaker class at the position, that might not be totally feasible. In the meantime, re-signing Garoppolo to simply be the No.