Matthew Stafford's wife sends message to husband's possible heir apparent, Rams draft pick Ty Simpson

Even astatine 38, Matthew Stafford remains 1 of the NFL’s apical quarterbacks. In fact, helium added different trophy to his postulation successful February, winning his archetypal league MVP award.

Stafford edged New England Patriots backmost Drake Maye aft throwing a career-best 46 touchdowns. The 2026 play volition beryllium his 18th, and with astir 2 decades successful the league, the Rams look to beryllium looking toward the aboriginal pursuing Thursday night’s archetypal round.

The Rams selected erstwhile Alabama backmost Ty Simpson with the No. 13 wide pick, perchance positioning him arsenic Stafford’s successor. The determination sparked beardown reactions and drew a effect from Kelly Stafford, the seasoned quarterback’s wife.

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Ty Simpson of Alabama celebrates aft being selected arsenic the 13th wide prime by the Los Angeles Rams during the archetypal circular of the 2026 NFL Draft astatine Acrisure Stadium successful Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, connected April 23, 2026. (Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)

Simpson said Kelly Stafford welcomed him to the squad with a connection connected societal media.

"Kelly has really texted maine connected Instagram and welcomed maine and told maine to deed her up if we request anything," Simpson said during his introductory property conference. "But I can’t hold to speech to Matthew. I’m ace ecstatic due to the fact that I conscionable privation to prime his brain."

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Simpson was the full-time starter astatine Alabama, throwing for 3,567 yards and 28 touchdowns successful 2025.

Rams manager Sean McVay unopen down immoderate speculation that Simpson was joining the squad to vie with Stafford for the starting job.

Matthew Stafford and his woman Kelly observe aft the Los Angeles Rams defeated the San Francisco 49ers successful the NFC Championship Game astatine SoFi Stadium successful Inglewood, Calif., connected Jan. 30, 2022. (Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

"There were a batch of players that we liked, but erstwhile you bash look astatine it, I deliberation the happening you liked astir the assemblage of enactment is … let’s marque 1 happening clear, this is Matthew’s team," McVay told reporters Thursday night. "You get a accidental to beryllium capable to code the backup quarterback."

Matthew Stafford of the Los Angeles Rams stands connected the tract earlier the NFC Championship crippled against the Seattle Seahawks astatine Lumen Field successful Seattle, Wash., connected Jan. 25, 2026. (Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)

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Simpson's parents visited with Rams wide manager Les Snead during Alabama's travel to the Los Angeles country for the Rose Bowl successful January, the NFL Network reported. Simpson's father, Jason Simpson, is the caput shot manager astatine UT Martin.

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