Matthew Stafford looked like a guy who just got handed a new toy. And in a way, he did.
The 38-year-old Rams quarterback stepped onto the practice field for training camp and didn’t waste any time making it clear how he feels about still being out there. Eighteen seasons in, and the guy sounds like a rookie who just found out he made the roster.
“It was a blast to be out here today, surrounded by so many great players, and I don’t take that for granted,” Stafford said. “Both on our side of the football and on the defensive side.”
He’s not wrong to feel that way. The Rams went out and got Myles Garrett in the offseason. That’s the reigning Defensive Player of the Year. Now he lines up opposite the reigning MVP. That’s not something you see every day.
Why this year feels different for Stafford
Last season ended in heartbreak. Stafford was brilliant — MVP-level brilliant — but the Rams lost to Seattle in the NFC Championship Game. One win away from the Super Bowl, and it slipped away.
So when you hear him talk about not taking any of this for granted, it lands differently. He knows how close they came. He knows the window doesn’t stay open forever, even if it feels wide open right now.
“It is a blessing to come out here every single day, competing with these guys and playing with the guys on the offensive side of the ball,” he said. “Really just an exciting time.”
The Rams also added cornerbacks Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson to an already improved defense. So it’s not just Garrett being Garrett. The whole unit got a boost.
But Stafford knows the work isn’t done
Having a roster stacked with talent doesn’t guarantee anything. Stafford is the first to say that. The Rams still have to prove it on the field, starting with camp. But for a guy who’s been through the grind for nearly two decades, the enthusiasm is real.
And honestly, it’s hard not to buy in when your quarterback sounds like that. If the leader of the team is this locked in, everyone else tends to follow.
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