Rams betting on Matthew Stafford to keep proving Drew Brees' 'secret' true

In Year 17, at age 37, Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford had his best season yet. It resulted in his first MVP, his first All-Pro berth (rather criminally, only his first), and long overdue recognition as one of the best in his generation.

Stafford has only gotten better since joining the Rams, continuing his mid-Lions career trajectory. Actually, he credits Drew Brees with dropping an inspiring secret ahead of the 2025 season, an anecdote Stafford shared in an appearance on the Green Light podcast with former Rams edge rusher Chris Long. 

"One of the things that surprised me, was I was talking to Drew, before last season. He was like, 'How old are you again?' 'I'm 37.' 'You might have the best five years of your career coming up.' And I was like, 'Huh.' I never really thought about it that way.

"You're taught as a player in this league it's a young man's game. … Drew saying that kind of lit a fire under me. Gives you a little bit of belief that maybe an old guy can still go out there and spin it around a little bit."

If Stafford stays healthy, there is no reason he can't continue at an elite level. The Rams have tacitly endorsed that belief - or perhaps not so tacitly - by investing in All-Pro talent around him on long-term contracts. After what he showed last season, you can't blame them.

Rams banking on Brees' prediction proving true for Stafford

Thus far this offseason, the front office has secured five stars on well-paid but generally bargain contracts for three-plus years into the future. That quintet is composed of Quentin Lake (three years, $38.25 million), Kam Curl (three years for $36 million), Trent McDuffie (signed to a four-year, $124 million extension), Jaylen Watson (three years, $51 million), and Myles Garrett (five years, $208.2 million). 

Of course, every one of those players would be beneficial to have around no matter who is under center. It's also true that, even knowing that Stafford could hang it up at any time, the Rams likely don't shell out that kind of money, years into the future, if No. 9 doesn't look like the type of guy who can play into his 40s, no problem. 

But, hey, that's only the defense! Other extensions could be coming on the offensive line and for receiver Puka Nacua. For now, though, after poor secondary play cost them a shot at Super Bowl LX to no fault of Stafford's or the offense, the No. 1 priority was making sure it wouldn't happen again.

Stafford won MVP by proving that all he needs is one healthy receiver and a bucketful of tight ends. As long as the offensive line can remain a bulwark, stockpiling offensive playmakers isn't all that concerning.

Brees knows what he's talking about. It's hardly a 'secret' that elite throwers of the football tend to ripen with age. Look at Tom Brady. Look at Peyton Manning, who set the single-season passing yards record two years before he retired. Look at Brees himself.

In his own age-37 season, the Saints HOFer topped 5,000 passing yards and began a four-year run leading all quarterbacks in success rate. Three other times he led the league in completion percentage, never dipping below 70 percent. He hung it up after 17 seasons, at the age of 41, a first-ballot Hall of Famer in the class of '26.

Stafford has enjoyed his own 'renaissance' with the Rams, but labeling it as such overlooks the fact that he has been improving at his craft since midway through his 12-year tenure in Detroit. That said, 2025 was easily the best year of his career, one that saw an already prolific slinger set personal highs in touchdowns and passer rating. Fulfilling Brees' prediction in full would, fittingly, take Stafford through his own age-41 season.

He's not sure he'll stick around that long, or even where he'll be 24 months from now. Trying to see that far into his bad-back-plagued future feels "daunting," Stafford said. A year-to-year approach feels "fair" both to himself and to the team. Granted good health and the motivation to keep going, though, who can say he doesn't have another career performance ahead? The Rams are betting on positive results. 

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