---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I started playing quarterback my junior…"
description: "\"I started playing quarterback my junior year of high school.\" — Jimmy Garoppolo"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c4a/jimmy-garoppolo-26073_football_i-started-playing-quarterback-my-junior_2846480.jpg"
---

#  I started playing quarterback my junior year of high school.

![“I started playing quarterback my junior year of high school.” quote by Jimmy Garoppolo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c4a/jimmy-garoppolo-26073_football_i-started-playing-quarterback-my-junior_2846480.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c4a/jimmy-garoppolo-26073_football_i-started-playing-quarterback-my-junior_2846480.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c4a/jimmy-garoppolo-26073_football_i-started-playing-quarterback-my-junior_2846480.jpg)

> “I started playing quarterback my junior year of high school.”

[Jimmy Garoppolo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-garoppolo/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Early leadership roles can shape future athletic identity and confidence.

**In simple terms:** Playing quarterback early builds confidence.

Key Takeaway

Seek early leadership opportunities.

Themes

sports leadership development

Mood

motivational optimistic

Type

personal inspirational

When to use this quote

- high school sports
- college recruiting
- career planning

Key Concepts

team dynamics psychology

Questions to Reflect On

- How did early quarterback experience influence your mindset?
- What support helped you manage expectations?

A Different Perspective

Early pressure can cause burnout if not balanced.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [High](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/high/) [High school](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/high-school/) [Junior](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/junior/) [Junior year](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/junior-year/) [Playing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/playing/) [Playing Quarterback](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/playing-quarterback-1429594/) [Quarterback](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quarterback/) [Quarterback Junior](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quarterback-junior-3761158/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [Started](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/started/) [Started Playing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/started-playing-257076/) [Year](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/year/)

## Related quotes

> [As a junior in high school, I had some injury problems with my arm and shoulder from baseball, so I didn't play quarterback as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carson-wentz/as-a-junior-in-high-school-i-had-some-injury-problems-with-my-arm-and/)

[Carson Wentz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carson-wentz/)

> [I started playing football at the age of 6. I've been playing quarterback ever since.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamarcus-russell/i-started-playing-football-at-the-age-of-6-i-ve-been-playing/)

[JaMarcus Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamarcus-russell/)

> [You always take mental reps and prepare that way, but this is about physical preparation as well, more than just the mental side of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geno-smith/you-always-take-mental-reps-and-prepare-that-way-but-this-is-about/)

[Geno Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geno-smith/)

> [I have been playing quarterback my whole entire life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jalen-hurts/i-have-been-playing-quarterback-my-whole-entire-life/)

[Jalen Hurts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jalen-hurts/)

> [It's hard to be a leader right away, but playing quarterback, you have to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-dalton/it-s-hard-to-be-a-leader-right-away-but-playing-quarterback-you-have/)

[Andy Dalton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-dalton/)

> [If there's one thing I can't stand, it's a quarterback who thinks playing quarterback is just about passing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-parcells/if-there-s-one-thing-i-can-t-stand-it-s-a-quarterback-who-thinks/)

[Bill Parcells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-parcells/)

> [Playing quarterback ... it's no joke ... The difference here with Johnny Manziel, there's a lot of style and very little substance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boomer-esiason/playing-quarterback-it-s-no-joke-the-difference-here-with-johnny/)

[Boomer Esiason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boomer-esiason/)

> [The team aspect of football and just playing quarterback, having the ball in your hands, having to make the plays, that was definitely something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-mahomes/the-team-aspect-of-football-and-just-playing-quarterback-having-the/)

[Patrick Mahomes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-mahomes/)

> [Playing quarterback you have to have quick reactions. You've got to be able to know pretty much everything that's going on on the field,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-knox/playing-quarterback-you-have-to-have-quick-reactions-you-ve-got-to-be/)

[Kevin Knox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-knox/)

> [One of the reasons I loved playing quarterback was that I got to call the plays. The cancer put me in a position where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/len-dawson/one-of-the-reasons-i-loved-playing-quarterback-was-that-i-got-to-call/)

[Len Dawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/len-dawson/)

> [I guess that's one of the things about playing quarterback. The quarterback gets most of the recognition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carson-palmer/i-guess-that-s-one-of-the-things-about-playing-quarterback-the/)

[Carson Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carson-palmer/)

> [Reps are huge things when you're playing quarterback, seeing the defense, and you need to play the game to get better at it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-jones/reps-are-huge-things-when-you-re-playing-quarterback-seeing-the/)

[Daniel Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-jones/)

> [I've been playing quarterback for a long time, and there's a ton of expectations no matter where you are and how you got there.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carson-palmer/i-ve-been-playing-quarterback-for-a-long-time-and-there-s-a-ton-of/)

[Carson Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carson-palmer/)

> [Playing the quarterback position, there are so many things you need to master that improvement ends up taking place on graduated levels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rodgers/playing-the-quarterback-position-there-are-so-many-things-you-need-to/)

[Aaron Rodgers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rodgers/)

> [If we're in a quarterback competition, I'm playing against you as a quarterback. I'm not playing against you as a person. There's a big…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gardner-minshew/if-we-re-in-a-quarterback-competition-i-m-playing-against-you-as-a/)

[Gardner Minshew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gardner-minshew/)

## More by Jimmy Garoppolo

> [There's different ways to win in this league. It's not always going to be pretty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-garoppolo/there-s-different-ways-to-win-in-this-league-it-s-not-always-going-to/)

[Jimmy Garoppolo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-garoppolo/)

> [I set pretty high expectations for myself,and I hold myself to a pretty high standard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-garoppolo/i-set-pretty-high-expectations-for-myself-and-i-hold-myself-to-a/)

[Jimmy Garoppolo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-garoppolo/)

> [By making yourself better, that's how you make your team better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-garoppolo/by-making-yourself-better-that-s-how-you-make-your-team-better/)

[Jimmy Garoppolo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-garoppolo/)

> [I think everything that happens, happens for a reason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-garoppolo/i-think-everything-that-happens-happens-for-a-reason/)

[Jimmy Garoppolo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-garoppolo/)

> [As a quarterback, you always believe in yourself. You always know you can do things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-garoppolo/as-a-quarterback-you-always-believe-in-yourself-you-always-know-you/)

[Jimmy Garoppolo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-garoppolo/)

> [Football, at the end of the day, is a little kids' game that grown men get to play. I'm just privileged to get to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-garoppolo/football-at-the-end-of-the-day-is-a-little-kids-game-that-grown-men/)

[Jimmy Garoppolo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-garoppolo/)

> [You don't want to come in and be phony and be someone you're not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-garoppolo/you-don-t-want-to-come-in-and-be-phony-and-be-someone-you-re-not/)

[Jimmy Garoppolo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-garoppolo/)

> [You can always play better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-garoppolo/you-can-always-play-better/)

[Jimmy Garoppolo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-garoppolo/)

> [My time in New England was great. I thank them for everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-garoppolo/my-time-in-new-england-was-great-i-thank-them-for-everything/)

[Jimmy Garoppolo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-garoppolo/)

> [I like to think I'm pretty close in comparison to Aaron Rodgers. He's very athletic and gets the ball out quickly. He's very knowledgeable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-garoppolo/i-like-to-think-i-m-pretty-close-in-comparison-to-aaron-rodgers-he-s/)

[Jimmy Garoppolo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-garoppolo/)

> [Stay single as long as you can - you'll be married the rest of your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-garoppolo/stay-single-as-long-as-you-can-you-ll-be-married-the-rest-of-your-life/)

[Jimmy Garoppolo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-garoppolo/)

> [That's been the dream since you were a little kid growing up. You want to be the guy playing in the Super Bowl. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-garoppolo/that-s-been-the-dream-since-you-were-a-little-kid-growing-up-you-want/)

[Jimmy Garoppolo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-garoppolo/)

> [Just like my agent had told me, Tom Brady is a really cool, down to earth guy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-garoppolo/just-like-my-agent-had-told-me-tom-brady-is-a-really-cool-down-to/)

[Jimmy Garoppolo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-garoppolo/)

> [I think of the important things: how to prepare, how to practice, how to prepare to practice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-garoppolo/i-think-of-the-important-things-how-to-prepare-how-to-practice-how-to/)

[Jimmy Garoppolo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-garoppolo/)

> [You see guys in the NFL when you're younger, and you try to model your game after that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-garoppolo/you-see-guys-in-the-nfl-when-you-re-younger-and-you-try-to-model-your/)

[Jimmy Garoppolo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-garoppolo/)

[Explore all 22 Jimmy Garoppolo quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-garoppolo/)

## More Football quotes

> [When I came to Chelsea, it was clear that, like many other players, I would first be loaned out. So I went to Belgium…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thorgan-hazard/when-i-came-to-chelsea-it-was-clear-that-like-many-other-players-i/)

[Thorgan Hazard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thorgan-hazard/)

> [If you take your eye off the ball or lose focus for even a minute you can lose a game against any team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felipe-anderson/if-you-take-your-eye-off-the-ball-or-lose-focus-for-even-a-minute-you/)

[Felipe Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felipe-anderson/)

> [There are guys who play lacrosse, and there are lacrosse players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendan-mundorf/there-are-guys-who-play-lacrosse-and-there-are-lacrosse-players/)

[Brendan Mundorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brendan-mundorf/)

> [Giggs is the realest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-kaluuya/giggs-is-the-realest/)

[Daniel Kaluuya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-kaluuya/)

> [You get a new coach; you do things a little differently.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archie-manning/you-get-a-new-coach-you-do-things-a-little-differently/)

[Archie Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archie-manning/)

> [You gotta have a little kid in you to play football.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-edwards/you-gotta-have-a-little-kid-in-you-to-play-football/)

[Herman Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-edwards/)

> [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/)

[Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/)

> [My team mates are fundamental for my characteristics, if they send in crosses I can play inside the area.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/filippo-inzaghi/my-team-mates-are-fundamental-for-my-characteristics-if-they-send-in/)

[Filippo Inzaghi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/filippo-inzaghi/)

> [The Copa del Rey is a different competition. It is football in its purest form and is different from the continuity of the league.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-laudrup/the-copa-del-rey-is-a-different-competition-it-is-football-in-its/)

[Michael Laudrup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-laudrup/)

> [“Wild card, got it," Duncan said. "Just like in Crazy Eights. I can be a diamond; I can be a spade. Whatever you need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-healy/wild-card-got-it-duncan-said-just-like-in-crazy-eights-i-can-be-a/)

[Christopher Healy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-healy/)

> [Leo, Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, Eden. Every year, you look at their numbers - score goals, assists, minutes - to see they play very well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pedro/leo-cristiano-ronaldo-neymar-eden-every-year-you-look-at-their/)

[Pedro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pedro/)

> [It's a lot harder to play football when you haven't got the ball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-gray/it-s-a-lot-harder-to-play-football-when-you-haven-t-got-the-ball/)

[Andy Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-gray/)

> [I just enjoy winning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xander-bogaerts/i-just-enjoy-winning/)

[Xander Bogaerts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xander-bogaerts/)

> [I think you can get, as a player, stuck in the mindset of trying too hard to prove yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trinity-rodman/i-think-you-can-get-as-a-player-stuck-in-the-mindset-of-trying-too/)

[Trinity Rodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trinity-rodman/)

> [We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/we-cannot-change-the-cards-we-are-dealt-just-how-we-play-the-hand/)

[Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/)

[Browse all 59,646 Football quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I started playing quarterback my junior year of high school.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Jimmy Garoppolo"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-garoppolo/i-started-playing-quarterback-my-junior-year-of-high-school/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Football"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-garoppolo/i-started-playing-quarterback-my-junior-year-of-high-school/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c4a/jimmy-garoppolo-26073_football_i-started-playing-quarterback-my-junior_2846480.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c4a/jimmy-garoppolo-26073_football_i-started-playing-quarterback-my-junior_2846480.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c4a/jimmy-garoppolo-26073_football_i-started-playing-quarterback-my-junior_2846480.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I started playing quarterback my junior year of high school.” — Jimmy Garoppolo",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Jimmy Garoppolo",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-garoppolo/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I started playing quarterback my junior...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-garoppolo/i-started-playing-quarterback-my-junior-year-of-high-school/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-garoppolo/i-started-playing-quarterback-my-junior-year-of-high-school/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
