• Sports
  • Football

Deflategate: Get to Know Jimmy Garoppolo, Tom Brady’s Substitute

1 minute read

With the suspension of NFL superstar Tom Brady for four games, the top quarterback in the league will cede the spotlight to his untested backup — 23-year-old Jimmy Garoppolo.

Who is this Garoppolo fellow? Here are some of the basics:

He was better than Romo

Garoppolo, a native of the Chicago suburbs, played college ball at Eastern Illinois University, alma mater of Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo. Garoppolo broke several passing records set by Romo. He won the small-college version of the Heisman in his senior year, when he passed for more than 5,000 yards and 53 touchdowns in 14 games …

Read the rest of the story from our partners at NBC News

More Must-Reads From TIME

Contact us at letters@time.com