From the Las Vegas Raiders locker room QB Jimmy Garoppolo wraps up the 2023 season
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00:00 >> The decision was made to go to Aiden, you never slumped body language wise,
00:05 you come off the field after the team won as excited as anyone.
00:09 How were you able to do that, man?
00:11 And yeah, just go about your business that way.
00:14 >> I've been in some weird situations around the NFL.
00:16 So I know it sounds cliche, but I'm really just about the team winning.
00:21 I know everyone thinks that's just tongue in cheek, whatever, but
00:25 I really just care about winning, man.
00:27 I love winning.
00:28 Build relationships with these guys, they become like brothers to you.
00:32 You start pulling for each other.
00:33 I think that's a big part of this thing and that's just who I am.
00:36 So I'm not trying to change anytime soon.
00:38 >> Obviously, this season didn't go the way you had planned or
00:40 hoped for personally.
00:42 But what are your reflections of this season?
00:45 >> I've been trying to think about it the last 12 hours or so,
00:48 last night just sitting there with the brothers, reminiscing.
00:52 When you're in the middle of it, it's a whirlwind.
00:55 You can't really smell the roses too long, you get caught up in it.
00:57 And I don't know, just reflecting, built a lot of cool relationships.
01:01 This building, players obviously, but just the people in this building.
01:04 It's a cool building, good people to be around.
01:07 That's the stuff you carry with you, man.
01:10 That's the stuff.
01:11 You look back on the season and little moments here and there, fun stuff.
01:14 And yeah, I loved it.
01:16 It was a weird year, don't get me wrong, but I loved every minute of it.
01:19 >> You said the other day, Jimmy, that you never know what the future's gonna hold.
01:22 But on a personal level, what do you want going forward at this point?
01:26 >> I just wanna get back to playing, honestly.
01:29 That's why I play this game.
01:30 Like I said before, I love to win.
01:32 Honestly, what I think I'm here for is just to go out there and
01:36 get wins as a football player.
01:37 I don't know, it's something that you gotta embrace.
01:40 Not everyone wants that.
01:41 Some people just want statistics and things like that.
01:43 I really just wanna go out there and win.
01:44 I really enjoy doing it.
01:46 It's what we're here for.
01:48 >> I know you're never gonna use any excuses, but how good was the foot this year?
01:52 And was the transition going into the season with the foot?
01:56 >> It was tricky.
01:57 It was different than any injury I've had in the past.
02:01 You don't realize, I mean, you're on your feet obviously all day.
02:04 It's just a little thing that nags you.
02:07 And so it was tough throughout training, if I can't even lie.
02:09 But we got to a good point where I started to not even notice it, really.
02:13 Last couple months, haven't even thought about it.
02:15 Rehab went well and finally feel like myself again.
02:18 So that's one positive to come out of this,
02:20 not going into rehab or surgery this offseason, that's big time.
02:24 >> I was gonna say, I'm sure there is a silver lining that you're able to get
02:27 healthy these last eight weeks.
02:29 >> Yeah, the body's feeling great, really.
02:32 Credit to the strength staff, those guys really helped me out.
02:35 We got into a little different lifting program,
02:37 just to key in the whole body and everything.
02:39 And I'm happy with where I'm at right now.
02:41 >> How was the season different once AP took over as the interim coach?
02:45 >> [LAUGH] >> From your point of view.
02:46 >> We only got a little while.
02:47 No, it was- >> [LAUGH]
02:49 >> It was way different, man.
02:50 AP, it's just, I mean, whenever you bring in a new coach like that,
02:53 the energy changes.
02:55 I think guys bought in very quickly.
02:56 AP, one thing I really appreciate about AP, he's a straight shooter, man.
03:00 And that's, I think, guys in this locker room,
03:02 that's all you really want in a head coach.
03:03 Someone that's gonna shoot you straight, tell you if you messed up or
03:06 if you did right, and really not sugarcoat it.
03:08 And AP, that's how he is, that's how he was from the get-go.
03:11 And I think that's what guys really appreciate.
03:13 He just kept it real, man.
03:14 I loved everything about it.
03:15 >> Jimmy, I know you said you wanna get back to playing.
03:17 Is that something you feel like you can do here?
03:19 Or would you think you're out there elsewhere?
03:22 >> I'm pretty open.
03:23 A lot of things are out of my control.
03:25 I've had situations like that before.
03:26 So, I've learned you just gotta roll with the punches a little bit.
03:29 And whatever happens, I think it all happens for a reason.
03:32 You just gotta make the best of your situation.
03:33 That's a big part of this whole NFL thing is, you're gonna be dealt the cards you're
03:37 dealt, and you just gotta make the best of it.
03:39 >> What has it been like just kind of being in this organization and
03:44 overall, like the facility as well, being so new and all, playing in Las Vegas?
03:48 >> It's been top notch, honestly.
03:50 Travel, where we stay, this building, like you said, everything's top notch.
03:55 Mark didn't cut any corners, that's for sure.
03:57 He spent everything he needed to, and we appreciate him as players for that.
04:01 It's a little thing, but it goes a far way.
04:03 Just when the equipment staff, the strength staff are all working together,
04:06 those little things add up throughout a long season.
04:08 >> And Jimmy, what did you think of the job Aiden did, and
04:12 what kind of future he could have in the league, based on what you saw this year?
04:16 >> It was impressive.
04:16 I mean, just being a rookie quarterback in the NFL, it's hard enough to play,
04:21 let alone all the circumstances that were going on here.
04:24 For him to deal with it, he's a real level-headed kid.
04:27 I think that's gonna do him well in the future.
04:29 He's got to know who you are in this league and be you, and
04:32 he did a good job of that this whole year, and he stayed true to himself.
04:35 >> AP just told us a little while ago that you and
04:37 Brian also helped coach him up and help him.
04:40 What did that mean to you to be able to at least help him as well?
04:42 >> It was a different role.
04:44 I've never really done that before, but I was a rookie quarterback one time in
04:49 this league, and I had guys help me out, Tom helped me out, just older dudes in
04:53 general, and I felt a responsibility, kinda.
04:57 I don't know, it's kind of a quarterback thing.
04:58 No one really sees the game as the quarterbacks do, so
05:01 you gotta help each other out a little bit and point them in the right direction.
05:05 So I tried to do as much as I could.
05:07 I don't know how much it helped, but.
05:08 >> [LAUGH] >> Competing against the ones in practice,
05:11 did you see that potential on the defense from training camp to then
05:14 once the season started that they could be a top ten team scoring wise?
05:17 >> Yeah, I mean, unfortunately in training camp,
05:20 they got the better of us, I would say.
05:22 But yeah, that scheme, it's tough, man.
05:24 I think PG does a great job of scheming it up and guys bought into it.
05:27 They got smart players over there, guys that can do different things, and
05:30 then you got Max disrupting up front.
05:32 That's a hell of a combo.
05:33 So yeah, I mean, we knew they were gonna be doing good this year.
05:36 I didn't know they were gonna be that good, though.
05:37 >> You said there's a lot of time here controlling the offensive.
05:41 What's your level of confidence that you could play at a high level this week?
05:47 >> Where it's always been.
05:48 I mean, I know who the player I am and where I stand in this league.
05:52 I think that's a big part of the NFL.
05:53 I mean, if you don't believe in yourself, no one will.
05:56 So that's a big part of it.
05:57 But yeah, just let the chips fall where they may.
06:00 I just gotta get on the field and start competing again.
06:02 That's when stuff gets easy.
06:04 >> All good.