Matthew Stafford recently completed an interview on the Magic Minds Podcast where he spoke about trying not to focus too much on the past or future, but to focus more on the present. Stafford explains in the interview what all fans should know, “We play this game that is, you know, America’s favorite game to watch, and you love it, but like at any moment it could be…your last play of the season.”
It’s no surprise Stafford takes such a mindful approach in his preparation for the NFL season, and it
sheds light that he really doesn’t know when his NFL career will come to its end. That unknown is part of why the Los Angeles Rams decided to hedge their bets with Ty Simpson as their future and their present in 2026, because if Stafford misses time, Simpson may give the Rams their best chance to compete this season.
As shocking, surprising or unorthodox it may have been for the Rams to take Simpson, when they could’ve had so many other players, the writing has been on the wall that Stafford could essentially walk away after any season since his Super Bowl win in L.A. His contracts have reflected that, and the latest deal between Stafford and the Rams still allows him to play on a year-to-year basis.
According to Stafford, he’s fine with that (seemingly as long as it’s with the Rams). For the Rams, as long as Stafford keeps balling out, they seem content with the arrangement too.
Of course, all parties involved know their most important player is always one snap away from missing time, and in the case of Stafford, he can risk missing time prior to the season evening starting based on the back issues he had last offseason prior to Week 1 (he ended up fine as it turned out).
Stafford seems very aware his time in the NFL will come to its end someday, maybe he always was. Either way, he says he’ll live in the moment for 2026, and worry about what could happen when it happens. As long as he stays healthy, that mindset should be good news for the Rams.
