Aaron Rodgers isn’t the only high-profile free agent quarterback still considering retiring ahead of the 2026 NFL season.
Jimmy Garoppolo is also considering ending his career after 12 seasons, NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport reports.
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Rapoport did not detail a timeline for Garoppolo to make a decision. He simply noted that the 34-year-old quarterback was “mulling over a final decision.”
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Quarterbacks headline early evaluations for the 2026 NFL Draft as teams begin selecting the best prospects available at the position.
See how college quarterbacks are turning heads as draft boards take shape ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Above, Fernando Mendoza of the Indiana Hoosiers reacts after a touchdown against the Oregon Ducks during the fourth quarter of the 2025 College Football Playoff semifinal in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 9, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia.
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See the best quarterbacks available in the 2026 NFL Draft
Quarterbacks headline early evaluations for the 2026 NFL Draft as teams begin selecting the best prospects available at the position.
See how college quarterbacks are turning heads as draft boards take shape ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Above, Fernando Mendoza of the Indiana Hoosiers reacts after a touchdown against the Oregon Ducks during the fourth quarter of the 2025 College Football Playoff semifinal in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 9, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia.
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Alabama Crimson Tide’s Ty Simpson battles during the first quarter against the Indiana Hoosiers in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals at Rose Bowl Stadium on January 1, 2026, in Pasadena, California.
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Garrett Nussmeier of the LSU Tigers drops back to pass against the Baylor Bears during the first half in the Kinder’s Texas Bowl at NRG Stadium on December 31, 2024, in Houston, Texas.
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Cade Klubnik of the Clemson Tigers warms up during the first half of a football game against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Williams-Brice Stadium on November 29, 2025 in Columbia, South Carolina.
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Drew Allar of the Penn State Nittany Lions reacts after a touchdown against the UCLA Bruins during the fourth quarter at Rose Bowl Stadium on October 4, 2025, in Pasadena, California.
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Miami’s Carson Beck throws during the College Football Playoff National Championship football game at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens on Monday, Jan. 19, 2026.
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Arkansas Razorbacks quarterback Taylen Green passes during the third quarter against the Auburn Tigers at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium.
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Colorado Buffaloes linebacker LaVonta Bentley #20 tackles North Dakota State Bison quarterback Cole Payton #9 in the first half at Folsom Field.
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Luke Altmyer of the Illinois Fighting Illini throws a pass against the Western Illinois Leathernecks during the first half at Memorial Stadium on August 29, 2025, in Champaign, Illinois.
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Diego Pavia of the Vanderbilt Commodores makes adjustments before snap during the second quarter of the game against the Texas Longhorns at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on Nov. 1, 2025, in Austin, Texas.
Garoppolo has played for four different teams since being selected by the New England Patriots in the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft. He has a career record of 43-21 in 64 starts, most of which came during six seasons with the San Francisco 49ers, and has completed 67.4% of his passes for 15,828 yards, 96 touchdowns and 52 interceptions, with a passer rating of 97.6.
Garoppolo spent the last two seasons as a backup with the Rams. He has played sparingly, completing 27 of 41 passes for 334 yards, two touchdowns and an interception in one start, but he has given the Rams a proven, veteran option with Super Bowl experience behind Matthew Stafford.
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Garoppolo was the favorite to fill that role again in 2026, as Rapoport noted. But if the 34-year-old decides to resign, the Rams may have to consider adding a replacement for him as they look to remain a contender during the twilight of the 38-year-old Stafford’s career.
The Rams currently have just two quarterbacks on their 90-man roster: Stafford and 2023 fourth-round pick Stetson Bennett IV.
It is unclear whether Los Angeles would trust Bennett, who has never played an NFL snap, as its primary backup for the 2026 NFL season. Even if the Rams are willing to do it, they will still need to add a third quarterback to the fold.
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Rams QB options
Given the Rams’ Super Bowl aspirations, they may want to target an experienced quarterback to back up Stafford. Below are the best non-Garoppolo backup options left on the free agent market:
The Rams could also consider adding a mid-round talent to serve as a backup and setup man as Stafford’s long-term successor. That could put players like Garrett Nussmeier, Drew Allar and Carson Beck on Los Angeles’ radar.
This article originally appeared in USA TODAY: Is Jimmy Garoppolo retiring? Rams QB options if veteran resigns
