The Las Vegas Raiders had one of their better wins of the season with Jimmy Garoppolo out of the lineup this past weekend with pressure now mounting on the veteran just months after signing a long-term deal
Once more, Tom Brady may play a role in determining Jimmy Garoppolo’s NFL future.
Following Josh McDaniels’ firing last week, the Las Vegas Raiders have started their coaching search, with Mark Davis depending on Brady to guide them in finding a replacement. Brady and Davis became friends, and there have long been rumors that the two are in talks to acquire a minority ownership in the Raiders.
Brady retired from the NFL earlier this season and has had interested in becoming a part-owner of a franchise, after joining the Las Vegas Aces ownership team, as well as English soccer team Birmingham City FC. And with Davis wanting Brady to join the ownership team, he will keep Brady in his inner circle as they look for a new head coach, as well as a new general manager.
According to CBS, the NFL legend will have some say over Raiders decisions, as the team is currently looking for a new permanent head coach. Brady’s choice will also have a significant impact on Garoppolo, his former teammate, who is in an awkward situation after being benched.
The new head coach and general manager will have to make a significant choice regarding the quarterback position. Garoppolo has had a lot of difficulty since signing an offseason deal with the Raiders.
He signed a four-year, $160 million contract but has not looked the quarterback that he’d been with the San Francisco 49ers, while struggling with injuries throughout his career.
This past weekend, rookie Aidan O’Connell played ahead of him after Garoppolo was benched and threw for 209 yards with the offense scoring 30 points in a win over the New York Giants. Many are now wanting to see more of the rookie ahead the veteran.
As a result, the veteran may find himself in a difficult situation going forward, possibly being benched in favor of a rookie selected in the fifth round, with the general manager and head coach having the final say. The fact that Brady has a say in this adds to the intrigue of the situation, as the legendary retired star has already witnessed Garoppolo leave one team due to him.
After serving as Brady’s backup quarterback for three seasons, Garoppolo realized he would never be able to start as a starter with the New England Patriots, so he left to join the 49ers. Following Garoppolo’s trade, Brady won two more Super Bowls with the Patriots and one with the Tampa Bay Bucs.
It is unclear whether the Raiders will hire a coach until the end of the season, after hiring Antonio Pierce in an interim role.