Ty Simpson could potentially step into the role currently held by Matthew Stafford, but in the meantime, Kelly Stafford, Matthew’s wife, has reached out to the Rams’ new first-round draft pick with a friendly message.
The Rams surprised many in the NFL when they selected the former Alabama quarterback with the 13th overall pick on Thursday night, despite Stafford, 38, having won the MVP award last season.
Simpson shared with reporters that Kelly had contacted him as soon as he was drafted.
“Kelly actually messaged me on Instagram,” he remarked. “She welcomed me and told me to get in touch with the family if I needed anything.”
Although he hasn’t yet connected with his husband, it’s obvious the 23-year-old is excited about the possibility of learning from the veteran quarterback.
“I can’t wait to speak with Matthew,” Simpson expressed. “I’m really eager because I want to pick his brain and soak up all the knowledge he has to offer.”
Last season, Simpson had impressive stats, throwing for 3,567 yards and 28 touchdowns at Alabama. He mentioned that he’s been a big fan of Stafford for quite some time now.
The choice of Simpson was unexpected, especially considering Stafford’s impressive 2025 season and the assumption that he would serve as the backup following the team’s journey to the NFC Championship Game.
Even Sean McVay, the Rams’ coach, seemed somewhat taken aback by the pick, admitting that he felt “a little grumpy” about how things unfolded, though he quickly stated it wasn’t exactly what he had planned.
Despite that, he insisted that he and general manager Les Snead are in sync regarding their decision-making.
“We’re thrilled about it,” McVay noted. “You always want to take notice of how things unfold. I was very pleased with what transpired last night and interested in what we achieved yesterday.” He showed enthusiasm for their ongoing collaboration, emphasizing that all decisions are made together.
Nonetheless, McVay reiterated that this remains “Matthew’s football team.” After Stafford’s standout season with a record 46 touchdowns, there seems to be no immediate pressure for Simpson to take over the reins just yet.
