How long can Rams Matthew Stafford play after Aaron Rodgers unexpected news?

When it comes to Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, he will forever be linked to the career of Pittsburgh Steelers veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers. The two are linked for many reasons and have dominated the NFL for a combined 36 seasons. Much of that time was spent as direct competitors. You see, Aaron Rodgers was the starting quarterback for the Green Bay Packers, while Matthew Stafford suited up as the starting quarterback for the Detroit Lions.

As NFC North Division rivals, the pair were scheduled to face off twice a year from 2009 through 2020. That is 11 NFL seasons, longer than the careers of the majority of NFL players. And curiously, both quarterbacks are still competing as starting quarterbacks.

These are compelling connections, but they only scratch the surface of how Rams starting QB Matthew Stafford and Aaron Rodgers are connected. If you recall, the Rams sought a replacement for starting quarterback Jared Goff after the disappointing 2020 NFL season. The Rams were convinced that the optimal choice was to trade for an established veteran. But do you recall that the Rams were linked to both Detroit Lions QB Matthew Stafford as well as Green Bay Packers QB Aaron Rodgers?

Stafford and Rodgers continue to be linked

And in this past offseason, when the Rams seemed to be at an impasse with contract negotiations with Stafford, NFL Insiders continued to link the team with veteran QB Aaron Rodgers. Weeks later, Rams HC Sean McVay revealed just how close the Rams were to doing so.

As both veteran quarterbacks enter the 2025 NFL season, Rodgers holds an advantage over Stafford in terms of passing yards, passing touchdowns, completion rate, and games played. But that could change soon, as Rodgers has publicly reported that this year is likely his final season of professional football.

So the obvious question that arises for Rams fans is: How long can the team count on veteran QB Matthew Stafford starting?

Matthew Stafford is a very competitive professional athlete, and you have to presume that he would love to top any mark achieved by Rodgers in the passing game. But as it stands now, Rodgers is nearly 3200 passing yards and 126 passing touchdowns ahead of Stafford. To break Rodgers' career passing yards mark, Stafford will need to play at least one more healthy season than Rodgers, which means that Stafford will likely want to suit up for 2026 as well.

But will the Rams have a role for him? Unless Stafford has a horrible season, yes. But Rodger's news does serve to place the Rams on notice. Either the team is all in on young Stetson Bennett taking that baton from Stafford, or this team's time is running out to find, acquire, coach up, and ease in a young rookie franchise quarterback to the roster. And the 2026 NFL Draft now looms as the drop-dead event to make that happen.

All good things must come to an end. And the Rodgers' imminent retirement at the end of the 2025 NFL season serves as a gentle reminder of that fact. This team may have two Round 1 picks in the 2026 NFL Draft, but they are still without a future franchise quarterback. Many NFL teams have spent far more picks searching for the best fit guy under center.

Hopefully, whoever takes over at quarterback for the team will have a full season to learn from and be mentored by Matthew Stafford. But if Aaron Rodgers is ready to retire at the end of the 2025 NFL season, how long can the Rams expect Stafford to continue playing before he, too, chooses to hang up his cleats?

As always, thanks for reading.

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