Jimmy Garoppolo is scheduled to make his long-awaited return to Foxboro, Mass. this fall, days before the three-year anniversary of the New England Patriots trading the quarterback to the 49ers.
The matchup has lost some luster this offseason, though Patriots fans will be given an in-the-flesh reminder on Oct. 25 of what they’re missing under center.
Tom Brady’s once-and-former heir apparent won’t get to square off with his mentor, who signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in free agency after a brief flirtation with the 49ers, his childhood team. Instead, the Garoppolo-led 49ers (as of this writing) will play the Patriots with Jarrett Stidham under center -- barring backup (and former 49er) Brian Hoyer being pressed into duty and/or a Brady-like turn from undrafted QBs Brian Lewerke or J’Mar Smith.
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Patriots coach Bill Belichick groomed Garoppolo to be Brady’s successor, turning to him when the probable Pro Football Hall of Famer was suspended for four games following “Deflategate” and a nationwide discussion of the Ideal Gas Law. Belichick was so enamored with Garoppolo that he, reportedly, offered Brady in a trade to the 49ers before ultimately sending Garoppolo to San Francisco in a trade completed on Halloween in 2017.
Owner Robert Kraft reportedly was having none of it, ordering Belichick to trade Garoppolo instead. Though the Patriots won one more Super Bowl and appeared in another with Brady, the damage was done.
New England’s willingness to trade Brady rather than sign him to a contract extension -- as well as the Patriots’ lack of enthusiasm for Brady and trainer Alex Guerrero hawking the “TB12 Method” rather than the "Patriot Way" -- reportedly pushed Brady out the door.
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San Francisco 49ers
Garoppolo should’ve faced the team that drafted him and the QB who mentored him as a conquering hero this fall, fresh off a Super Bowl appearance of his own. Instead, Garoppolo will play Stidham, who threw just four passes as a rookie last season in mop-up duty.
If Belichick had his way, Garoppolo would be in Stidham’s place come October. Instead, Garoppolo now has a chance to beat the man who preferred him all along.