Stetson Bennett and the Rams’ backup question as 2026 approaches
stetson bennett has suddenly become a bigger part of the Rams’ quarterback discussion because Jimmy Garoppolo is considering retirement and Los Angeles has not yet filled the backup spot behind Matthew Stafford.
What Happens When the Backup Plan Changes?
The timing matters because the Rams know Stafford will remain their starter, but the rest of the quarterback room is less settled. Garoppolo has been Stafford’s backup for the past two seasons, and his possible retirement opens a clear vacancy at a moment when Los Angeles has already been forced to think about succession. Stetson Bennett is the only other quarterback on the roster for now, which makes this more than a routine offseason detail.
Garoppolo’s situation is notable for what it signals about the Rams’ planning. He entered free agency in March with the expectation that he would return, but the team has not yet signed him. Coach Sean McVay said the Rams are leaving the door open for him, while also making clear they do not want to press. That leaves the team in a holding pattern, with Bennett positioned as the only internal name on the depth chart.
What If the Rams Have to Lean on Stetson Bennett?
If Garoppolo steps away and the Rams do not add another veteran, the immediate competitive impact is straightforward: Stetson Bennett moves from a depth option to the clearest in-house answer behind Stafford. That does not mean the job is his by default, but it does mean the Rams would need to make a deliberate decision about whether to keep building around him or look elsewhere for insurance.
The context around Bennett is not complicated. He is the only other quarterback on the roster right now, and that alone raises his importance. The Rams cannot treat the backup role as a minor detail if Garoppolo retires, especially with Stafford coming off an NFL MVP-winning season and the team needing continuity at the position. In that sense, Bennett’s profile is tied directly to the uncertainty around Garoppolo, not to any fresh competition from outside the organization.
What If Garoppolo Returns After All?
The most stable outcome for Los Angeles is also the most familiar one: Garoppolo returns and resumes the role he has held for two seasons. That would restore a known structure behind Stafford and reduce the pressure on Bennett to absorb a larger share of the backup conversation. It would also fit McVay’s public stance that the team wants to give Garoppolo time and that the door remains open.
Still, Garoppolo’s age, his 12-year NFL career, and his consideration of retirement introduce genuine uncertainty. He has played 85 career games across four teams and has earned nearly $160 million, so the decision appears to be about whether he wants to continue at all, not just whether he wants to change teams. If he decides that 2026 is the moment to stop, the Rams’ internal quarterback picture changes quickly.
| Scenario | What it means for Los Angeles | Effect on Stetson Bennett |
|---|---|---|
| Best case | Garoppolo returns as Stafford’s backup | Stays in a supporting role |
| Most likely | Rams wait before making a final move | Remains the only other quarterback on roster |
| Most challenging | Garoppolo retires and no veteran replacement arrives quickly | Faces a much larger depth-chart responsibility |
Who Gains Ground If the Room Resets?
The Rams are the clearest stakeholder here, because the team controls the pace of the response. A return from Garoppolo would preserve familiarity. A retirement would force a faster plan. Either way, Los Angeles has to balance stability with uncertainty, and Bennett becomes more relevant in that process than he was at the start of free agency.
Garoppolo also has leverage in a quiet way. His decision could shape how much urgency the Rams feel. If he retires, the team may be pushed to reinforce the position. If he returns, the conversation settles down again. For Bennett, the opportunity is indirect but real: roster openings often matter most when a club already has one quarterback it trusts and one younger option it is still evaluating.
What Should Readers Watch Next?
The key question is whether Garoppolo turns retirement talk into an actual exit. Until that is resolved, the Rams remain in a delicate position behind Stafford, and stetson bennett stays at the center of the backup debate by default. If Los Angeles wants certainty, it will need to decide whether Bennett is enough insurance or whether another move is needed. If Garoppolo returns, the question narrows. If he does not, the Rams’ quarterback room becomes one of the more consequential offseason watch points in the organization.
For now, the safest reading is simple: the Rams still have their starter, but the next layer is unsettled, and stetson bennett is the name that benefits most from the uncertainty surrounding Garoppolo.
