Jimmy Garoppolo: ‘I wouldn’t be’ in Super Bowl if it wasn’t for Dino Babers
Former Dino Babers protege Jimmy Garoppolo says he wouldn’t be in the Super Bowl if it wasn’t for the Syracuse football head coach. Here are the details.
Jimmy Garoppolo is hoping to land his third Super Bowl ring on Sunday when his San Francisco 49ers play the Kansas City Chiefs in Miami.
He won two rings as a backup quarterback for the New England Patriots behind Tom Brady and now he’s ready to create his own legacy.
Although before he does that on Sunday, during Super Bowl week, Jimmy credited current Syracuse football head coach Dino Babers as one of the main reasons why he’s here in this spot:
"“I wouldn’t be here without Dino Babers I can say that. Everything he did for me in my last two years of college bringing in the Baylor offense and all that stuff. It changed my college career indefinitely, I can’t thank him enough and he’s a great man.”"
Prior to taking over the reins with the Orange, Dino Babers got his first head coaching opportunity at the college level back in 2012 with Eastern Illinois.
Garoppolo arrived on campus back in 2010 and had marginal success, but when Dino arrived his numbers exploded:
"2012: 3,832 passing yards, 31 touchdowns to only 15 interceptions, with a 61 percent completion percentage.2013: 5,050 passing yards, 53 touchdowns to only 9 interceptions, with a 66 percent completion percentage."
On top of the statistical increase, Dino Babers helped Jimmy Garoppolo become a winner. In his first two years, the Panthers went 4-18. In Dino’s two years they went 19-7.
Jimmy ended up being selected with the 62nd overall pick in the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft. After being primarily a backup for the first three years of his career he was traded to San Francisco and has blossomed into one of the brightest young quarterbacks in all of football.
Dino Babers knew that Jimmy was special after the first practice at Eastern Illinois and he shared a funny story to Steve Infanti of News Channel 9:
"“I knew right then that Jimmy was different. I still remember calling my buddies that were pro scouts and telling them they need to come to Eastern Illinois to check this kid out. And they told me Garoppolo wasn’t on their list and I told them this is your area and if you don’t come to look at this quarterback, as your friend I love you and I’m telling you when he gets drafted you’ll get fired. These are my friends, I told them you better come write this kid up or it’ll cost you your job.”"
Next. Syracuse Football: Ranking every SU first round pick in NFL Draft history. dark
For Jimmy to credit Syracuse football head coach Dino Babers on this stage is a huge boost in recruiting. Hopefully, the Orange and this coaching staff maximize that during the recruiting season.