Jimmy G Might Be the Raiders' Next Lamonica

After quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo led the Las Vegas Raiders to a come-from-behind victory over the Denver Broncos last Sunday, many long-time members of Raider Nation are hoping he might become the reincarnation of Daryle Lamonica.

Garoppolo signed with the Raiders during the off-season after playing for the New England Patriots and San Francisco 49ers earlier in his career.

Lamonica, known as “The Mad Bomber,” was a backup quarterback for the Buffalo Bills behind Jack Kemp but earned a reputation as a clutch performer when he came off the bench in the fourth quarter to lead the Bills to several victories.

Raiders Managing General Partner Al Davis pulled off a blockbuster trade in 1967 when he sent quarterback Tom Flores, who would later coach the Silver and Black to two Super Bowl victories, and star wide receiver Art Powell to the Bills for Lamonica and wide receiver Glenn Bass.

All Lamonica did that season was lead the Raiders to a 13-1 record, plus a 40-7 victory over the Houston Oilers in the American Football League Championship Game, before the Green Bay Packers downed the Raiders, 33-14, in Super Bowl II at the Orange Bowl in Miami in legendary Coach Vince Lombardi’s final game with the Pack.

“Daryle Lamonica was the perfect quarterback for the Raiders at that time,” Raiders Hall of Fame Coach John Madden said several years later. “He wasn’t intruding on a team that was set, he eased into a team that was being built, a team that went to the Super Bowl in his first season on a team that was starting a tradition of success.”

The 6-foot-3, 215-pound Lamonica was a three-year starter at Notre Dame and, after turning down several pro baseball contracts, was voted Most Valuable Player in the 1962 East-West Shrine Game at Kezar Stadium in San Francisco after passing for 349 yards.

Several years later, he would become a star on the other side of San Francisco Bay in Oakland.

Lamonica, who was selected by the Bills only in the 24th round (No. 188 overall) of the 1962 NFL Draft, turned out to be a star, being selected the AFL’s Most Valuable Player in 1967 and 1969, in addition to making the AFL All-Star team three times and playing in the Pro Bowl twice after the AFL-NFL merger was complete in 1970.

After playing eight seasons with the Raiders, Lamonica is fourth on the franchise’s all-time passing list with 2,248 yards and 148 touchdown throws, but there is one area where “The Mad Bomber” really stands out.

Lamonica, who passed away earlier this year at the age of 80 in Fresno, Calif., where he grew up, had a record of 62-16-6, by far the best by a quarterback in Raiders franchise history.

“It was an exciting time,” Lamonica said of the AFL’s 10-year run in the 1960s. “We were innovative in the AFL. We brought the passing game more into play than the NFL did. AFL fans wanted to see the ball in the air.”

Garoppolo already has a record of 41-17 as a starter in the NFL, a good indication for the Raiders that he might be the next Lamonica.

"He’s a good leader,” Coach Josh McDaniels said of Garoppolo. “He’s won a lot of games in this league. “I think the guys in the locker room know who they have and what this guy can do, how competitive he is. He’s a very good leader. He’s a great communicator. He just does what it takes to win.

“He doesn’t care about his statistics or anything like that, it’s just: ‘Whatever I can do at my position to try to help the team win, I’m going to try to do it.’ I’m super happy that he’s a Raider.”

Added defensive end Maxx Crosby: “He’s a dog. We see that every day in practice. He put it on display (against the Broncos). It’s exciting to see.”

Getting the Raiders to the Super Bowl would be the clincher, putting Garoppolo up with Lamonica.

The Silver and Black remain on the road this week when they travel to play to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, Sept. 17, at 1:05 p.m. EDT/10:05 a.m. PDT.

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