Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford recently shared his perspective on his new role as a mentor to rookie quarterback Ty Simpson. Speaking on The Green Light Podcast with host Chris Long, Stafford articulated his desire to be remembered by Simpson as a true professional and a positive influence.
"I mean, hopefully, he comes away with a guy that treated him the right way, showed him what it was about, what it’s like to be a true professional and also be yourself, right?" Stafford said. "I’m not some robot out there. …My number one job is to get our team and myself as ready to play as possible."
Stafford, who has played in the league for 18 years and recently signed a $105 million contract extension, is entering a new phase of his career. Simpson was selected by the Rams with the 13th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, a move that surprised some given the team's immediate competitive goals. Simpson, a redshirt junior from Alabama, started only one game during his college career. Last season, he threw for 3,567 yards and 28 touchdowns, leading his team to an 11-4 record and an appearance in the College Football Playoff.
As Simpson transitions back to a backup role, he will be learning from Stafford, who has an extensive track record in the NFL. Stafford led the Rams to a Super Bowl victory in 2021 and earned his first MVP award last season, with 4,707 passing yards and 46 touchdowns. Stafford indicated he is ready to support Simpson's development.
"And if he gathers information and learns from that along the way, I’m fired up for our team because that’s going to make us better, and I’m fired up for him," Stafford added. "Hopefully [Ty Simpson] is a guy that 15-20 years down the road can look back and say, ‘Man, I really enjoyed my time with Matthew and learned a lot from him."