New England Patriots: Could Jimmy Garoppolo return in 2021?

Could there be a Jimmy Garoppolo, New England Patriots reunion in 2021?

Going into the 2020 NFL season, there were questions surrounding the quarterback position on the New England Patriots and who would take over under center both this year and beyond following the departure of legendary quarterback Tom Brady last offseason.

Now at the midway point in the regular-season schedule, questions still remain regarding the future of the position in New England while continued struggles remain on a team that hasn’t had to deal with this issue for basically the last decade and perhaps stretching back prior.

Before the 2020 campaign began, the Patriots were thought to be looking at either Jarrett Stidham or Brian Hoyer to lead the things on offense throughout the new year. That was until New England went out and signed veteran quarterback Cam Newton off the free-agent market after he parted ways with the Carolina Panthers following the 2019 season.

With Newton entering New England, it quickly became interesting to see if he would be able to return to MVP form that he showcased in Carolina earlier in his career. Through the first half of the regular season, however, Newton has struggled while trying to lead the Patriots offense, sparking further concerns over the future of the quarterback position for Bill Belichick and company.

As New England continues to look at who it would like to lead things under center beyond the 2020 season, there is one familiar face and intriguing player that could emerge as a possibility to return to the Patriots. That being former Patriots quarterback and current San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo.

Would the New England Patriots be inclined to bring Jimmy Garoppolo back?

In 2017, San Francisco traded for Garroppolo to take things over of the 49ers offense, sending a second-round draft pick to New England in return for the quarterback. The 49ers then awarded him with a five-year, $137.5 million contract after he got off to a hot start with his new squad that season.

Garoppolo, who played in New England as a backup to Brady from 2014-16, is in his fourth season in San Francisco in 2020 and has been relatively solid for the 49ers with the exception of this year. Garoppolo notably helped San Francisco to a Super Bowl appearance in 2019, only to fall to the eventual champions Kansas City Chiefs in that game.

In six games in 2020, however, Garoppolo hasn’t been very good with the 49ers and now the 29-year-old quarterback is out for an extended period of time after being placed on the injured reserve list with a high ankle sprain.

With questions beginning to swirl surrounding Garoppolo potentially parting ways with the 49ers this offseason, the Patriots could be a landing spot for the quarterback and a reunion between the two sides could be a possibility with New England having some available cap space and a continued need at quarterback this season and in 2021.

Newton and Hoyer will both be free agents after this season and it’s still unknown if the team would have faith in Stidham taking things over to lead the offense. Meaning Garoppolo could find himself as the starting quarterback once again in New England in 2021.

On Friday, former Patriots player and current ESPN analyst Rob Ninkovich appeared on Get Up and talked about the likeliness of Garoppolo returning to New England to lead the offense for the Patriots next year.

With the continued question marks at quarterback both this season and beyond 2020, the Patriots could look to acquire a quarterback to lead things under center this offseason. If they do, keep an eye on a potential return of Garoppolo to New England.