Jimmy Garoppolo had a challenging week, with the Raiders opting to replace him with Aiden O’Connell after the dismissal of head coach Josh McDaniels and general manager Dave Ziegler. This shift in leadership likely marks the conclusion of the Garoppolo era in Las Vegas, a mere halfway through his first season with the team.
What adds to the complexity of this week is the fact that Garoppolo celebrates his 32nd birthday on Thursday. Despite his benching and the organizational upheaval in Las Vegas, the Raiders shared a “Happy Birthday” message for the seasoned quarterback on social media.
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Fans and analysts couldn’t help but notice the irony in the team extending birthday wishes to Garoppolo just a day after officially benching him, resulting in some creative reactions across social media.
While Garoppolo is now in the role of the Raiders’ backup, he’s set to receive $45 million in guaranteed earnings, courtesy of his three-year contract with Las Vegas. The veteran is accustomed to dealing with uncertainties regarding his playing time, having arrived from the 49ers last year. Nevertheless, being benched in the same week as his birthday undoubtedly presents a challenging situation.
Given his strong track record of winning, many believe that Jimmy G deserves another opportunity as a starting quarterback.