When the LA Rams picked Ty Simpson as the No. 13 pick in the 2026 draft, many fans and analysts raised an eyebrow and even sensed coach Sean McVay’s hesitation toward the decision.
While McVay brushed off the narrative and said it was just a long day for him, analyst Steve Smith Sr. shared his thoughts on what could take place once Matthew Stafford retires from the game. The quarterback signed a massive one-year, $55 million extension in May, but he has said retiring would be a “family thing” and that he takes his career “one year at a time.”
On Friday’s edition of ESPN’s “First Take,” Smith highlighted that McVay has young children, predicting that the Rams coach might take a few years off once Stafford retires. Smith, a five-time Pro Bowler with the Carolina Panthers, also believes McVay can go on a break because when he is in his football element, he’s a hermit of the sport.
“When Matthew Stafford and Sean McVay are joined at the hip, and when Matthew Stafford goes, Coach McVay may take a few years off because he has young children,” Smith said. “You know, he’s one of those guys, he’s all in. He becomes a hermit of football when he’s in with football. And we all know you can’t do that and be a father, husband, you know, uncle, all that stuff. So you kind of need that time to just get your sabbatical.”
Host Stephen A. Smith then disagreed with Smith’s prediction and said the Ty Simpson pick was not as controversial as it’s no secret that Stafford is getting old.
Sean McVay and his wife, Veronica, have two children: Jordan (born October 2023) and Christian (born December 2025).
Matthew Stafford Weighs In on Conversation With Sean McVay After Rams Drafted Ty Simpson
Many analysts thought Sean McVay’s hesitation while talking to Ty Simpson on draft day was because of how he thought Matthew Stafford would feel about the franchise picking another quarterback.
At Thursday’s press conference, Stafford spoke to the media about his conversations with McVay about Simpson and said he appreciated how the Rams coach talked to him about it. The Rams quarterback further said he understands where the team is coming from, as he is aware that he is not 25 years old.
“We’re doing everything we can to be as good a football team as we can for now, for the future, for all of it,” Stafford said.
Stafford then shared that he believes his first job is to get himself and the team ready to play to the best of their capabilities.
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