Resurfaced Photo Of Charlie Kirk With Jimmy Garoppolo Leaves Fans Stunned

This article was originally published on Total Pro Sports.

An old photo from Charlie Kirk’s high school days has surfaced, offering a rare glimpse into his life before he became a political commentator.

The picture shows Kirk on a football field during a quarterback training session with future NFL quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo. Both were high school athletes in Illinois at the time, long before their careers took them in different directions.

Kirk attended Wheeling High School, where he played football and basketball. Garoppolo went to nearby Rolling Meadows High School and competed in football, baseball, and basketball.

The resurfaced photo was taken after a football practice session. Other videos that have circulated online over the years have also shown Kirk’s arm strength, including clips of him throwing footballs more than 50 yards downfield.

Different Paths After High School

Although both spent time developing their quarterback skills as teenagers, their lives took very different paths.

Garoppolo continued playing football at Eastern Illinois and was selected by the New England Patriots in the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft. He later joined the San Francisco 49ers and helped lead the team to the Super Bowl during the 2019 season. That year, he threw for 3,978 yards and 27 touchdowns.

The 49ers lost the Super Bowl to the Kansas City Chiefs, a game that marked the beginning of Kansas City’s dominant run under Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes.

Charlie Kirk and Jimmy Garoppolo in high school. pic.twitter.com/3EliXYcMhA

— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) June 6, 2026

Kirk chose a different path. While still in high school, he became interested in politics. After graduating, he briefly attended Harper College in Palatine, Illinois, before leaving to focus on building Turning Point USA with Bill Montgomery.

Even after stepping away from football, Kirk remained a passionate fan. He frequently supported the Oregon Ducks and was photographed with former Oregon quarterback and current Denver Broncos player Bo Nix.

Following Kirk’s assassination in September 2025, Oregon head coach Dan Lanning publicly reacted to the tragedy.

“Life matters, you know, I think we’ve lost sight of that,” Lanning said.

Since Kirk’s death, Garoppolo has not publicly commented. The veteran quarterback recently played for the Los Angeles Rams and reportedly has considered retirement after a 12-year NFL career.