Meet Mike Garoppolo - Jimmy Garoppolo’s Supportive Older Brother
San Francisco 49ers star quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo has the unconditional support and admiration of his older brother, Mike Garoppolo.
Jimmy Garoppolo isn't the only football player in the family. His older brother, Mike Garoppolo, preceded Jimmy onto the field, and has been a huge supporter of his younger brother.
Mike Garoppolo is one of Jimmy G's three brothers, and he was a linebacker for the Western Illinois University team, the Fighting Leathernecks.
Jimmy Garoppolo at the annual Christmas tree lighting at Macy's Downtown Crossing in 2015 in Boston, Massachusetts. | Source: Getty Images
Handsome Jimmy Garoppolo is almost as famous as Tom Brady and has legions of fans in San Francisco, since he became the 49ers quarterback in 2017. Jimmy G, or Jimmy Gucci as he is nicknamed, was born in Chicago on November 2, 1991.
Two years later, on June 27, 2020. Mike and his bride tied the knot in a beautiful outdoor ceremony in the Napa Valley, in California, with the whole Garoppolo family in attendance.
He has three brothers, Tony Jr. and Mike, who are older, and Billy, the baby of the family. Jimmy G was born just ten days before Mike's third birthday.
Mike Garoppolo Is Jimmy G’s Older Brother
Mike Garoppolo was born on November 12, 1988, in Arlington Heights, Chicago, Illinois. He is the second son of Tony and Denise Garoppolo and is three years older than Jimmy G.
He played football in high school and was All-Conference, All-Area, and All-State player. He went on to play college football from 2009 to 2011 at Western Illinois University.
Mike's parents, Tony and Denise, are an electrician and a cook, respectively, and raised four rowdy boys. Mike's paternal grandparents were Italian immigrants, and his mother is of Polish and German ancestry.
Mike Garoppolo Played Football Too and Became a Coach
After playing college football and earning his degree in Physical Education at Western Illinois University, Mike carved out a career as a coach. He became a Track and Field and Varsity Football coach at Niles North High School.
In 2018, Jimmy G moved to San Francisco to play for the 49ers, and Mike resigned from his job at Niles North High School to follow his younger brother out to California. Mike said:
"When Jimmy got the opportunity he got, you have the conversation (about moving out there). For the family, it's an opportunity that happens once in a lifetime, and you just couldn't pass it up."
For Mike, supporting family comes first, so he moved West with his girlfriend, leaving behind his six years at the high school, where his work as a coach was prized.
Mike Garoppolo Is Close to His Family and Became a Husband Recently
Mike and his girlfriend moved to California in 2018, and that Valentine's Day he paid tribute to their relationship with the sweetest post on Instagram. He wrote:
"Happy Valentine’s Day to my rock @brialee25 hope you have a great day!! #valentinesday #myvalentine #onelove #comehome #chocolatecoveredstrawberries."
Two years later, on June 27, 2020. Mike and his bride tied the knot in a beautiful outdoor ceremony in the Napa Valley, in California, with the whole Garoppolo family in attendance.
The bride wore a lovely white gown and a veil with a coronet of flowers, while the groom wore an elegant dove-gray suit, and his groomsmen wore pink.
Mike has kept his personal life quiet, and while he does post about his brothers -- especially Jimmy G -- he does not share information about his personal life.
Mike and his close-knit family are always there for Jimmy G, and are his greatest supporters, with the three brothers often attending the 49er practices.