How Drew Brees Motivated Rams QB Matthew Stafford

Stafford said that he spoke with two legendary quarterbacks about playing into his 40s, Tom Brady and Drew Brees. Stafford shared what Brees told him before the 2025 season -- that his best days in the NFL could still be ahead. Brees was right.

“I think one of the things that surprised me was I was talking to Drew, this was before last season and he was like, 'How old are you again?’ And I was like 'I’m 37,’ and he was like, 'You might have your 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," Stafford explained. "And the older you get, you're just kinda doing everything you can to try to stay up to par with everybody else.”

Stafford won NFL MVP for the first time in his career, acknowledging Brees’ comments motivated him.

“Drew saying that kinda lit a fire under me and gives you a little bit of belief that maybe an old guy can still go out there and spin it around a little bit," Stafford said. “Obviously, last year was a successful year for our team and for myself. Just gives you a little bit of energy moving forward and hope that that continues.”

Stafford will hope to build off of the success he and the Rams had last season. The Rams were 12-5 in 2025 and reached the NFC Championship Game, losing 31-27 to the Seattle Seahawks, who would go on to win the Super Bowl. Stafford has won a Super Bowl ring with the Rams, but if he can stay in top form, it’s not inconceivable he could play a few more years and hoist up another Lombardi Trophy before he hangs up his cleats for the last time.

Stafford said that when he initially joined the Rams, he told head coach Sean McVay he planned to play another three to four seasons, and now he’s blowing past that mark entering season five in Los Angeles.

“Now, it’s like I don’t know, maybe I’ll just keep rolling,” Stafford said. “My girls love watching me play. Might as well.”

Stafford brought his four daughters up to the stage with him when he won NFL MVP back in February, and with their support it would seem Stafford has all the more incentive to, as he put it, keep rolling.