Matthew Stafford is not done. The Los Angeles Rams quarterback revealed this week that he has been getting advice from Tom Brady and Drew Brees about playing into his 40s, and his own coaching staff is on board with the idea.
Stafford, fresh off the first MVP award of his career, signed an extension with the Rams this offseason that runs through 2027. He turns 39 that year. If Los Angeles plays into Super Bowl 62 in February 2028, Stafford could finish a season at 40 without playing an additional year.
The conversations have been ongoing. Stafford said he has talked to Brady in each of the last two offseasons. Brees told him at 37 years old, “You might have your best five years of your career coming up.” That conversation aged perfectly. Stafford just won an MVP at 38.
The Brady playbook is the obvious template. Brady played until he was 45, won three Super Bowls after turning 37, and treated his body like a science project for the last decade of his career. Stafford has the arm talent to extend his prime. The question is whether the body cooperates.
Stafford’s history of injuries is the wild card. He has dealt with back issues. His thumb has been a problem. The Rams have had to carefully manage his snaps in practice for years. None of that screams long term durability.
What does work in his favor is Sean McVay. Few coaches in the league design an offense around their quarterback the way McVay does. The motion, the play action, the quick throws all keep Stafford from taking big hits. That is exactly the kind of environment that lets a quarterback play deep into his late 30s.
The Rams are also reportedly comfortable going year to year now. That is critical. Stafford does not have to commit to a five year vision. He just has to want to come back next summer. McVay said as much earlier this offseason.
This is also great news for Rams fans staring down the future of the position. If Stafford plays through 2027, Los Angeles has time to develop a successor without having to rush a young quarterback into the lineup. The Rams have shown a real commitment to drafting and stashing quarterbacks. Stetson Bennett, Jimmy Garoppolo’s veteran presence, all of it is part of a plan.
Stafford is on a Hall of Fame trajectory. He has a Super Bowl ring, an MVP, and the respect of the entire quarterback brotherhood. The Brady and Brees conversations are not about whether he can play. They are about how. Quarterbacks who get advice from those two tend to figure it out.
Expect Stafford under center for the Rams for at least another two seasons. Possibly more. Father time wins everyone eventually. He has not won this round yet.
A longtime sports reporter, Carlos Garcia has written about some of the biggest and most notable athletic events of the last 5 years. He has been credentialed to cover MLS, NBA and MLB games all over the United States. His work has been published on Fox Sports, Bleacher Report, AOL and the Washington Post.
