Garoppolo is an Illinois-native

The thing about sports fans is they love a good story. That’s one of the reasons NFL Films is so successful even to this day. They find the quality stories behind the players. They humanize the game, giving the fans something to cheer for besides scoring points. Garoppolo going to the Bears is the easiest Hollywood script there is.

After all, he was born in the northwest suburbs of Chicago. A town called Arlington Heights. He went to high school in Rolling Meadows. This kid grew up in the heart of Bears country. How amazing would it be if he came home to take the helm of the team he grew up watching? “Special” is one word that comes to mind. In fact he still gets teased about it by friends accord to Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun-Times.

Jimmy Garoppolo feels the tug of home.

It’s usually voiced by his childhood friends from Arlington Heights, not satisfied with his status as the Patriots’ backup quarterback.

They ask him about starting for the Bears.

“All the time,” he said.

One other thing? Players born in the Chicago area have tended to leave a lasting impact on the franchise when they’ve played for it. George Halas actually founded the entire enterprise. Then of course there was the young man from the South Side named Richard Marvin Butkus. A man who became the best middle linebacker in NFL history.

Who knows better the value of playing for a city like Chicago than men who actually lived in or near it? That is why Garoppolo is such an attractive target, and why he might love to come home.