Imagine being a kid from Chicago, growing up with the dream of playing football in the NFL. You’ve run the dream scenario through your head countless times; knocking the Green Bay Packers out of the playoffs, at Lambeau Field, as the snow drifts down.
Jimmy Garoppolo lived out that dream in earnest on Saturday night. He wasn’t at his best, nor was he at his worst, but he remained steady, unflappable and provided a sense of ease as the natural leader of the team.
By the end of it, he’d knocked Aaron Rodgers out of the second time in three years, this time in Rodgers’ domain, and in what could well be his final appearance as a Green Bay Packer.
He celebrated as any Chicago native would, reconvening with his game-winning kicker, Robbie Gould, who spent so many years on the wrong end of those Packers-Bears matchups, only to enjoy this walk-off win in difficult conditions.
“You’re a fucking legend, man,” Garoppolo said. “Fuck the Packers!”
You can’t blame the man. He’s celebrating like any one of us would, let alone a childhood Bears fan.