WOODLAND HILLS, Calif. – Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford does not look back or forward. He wants to be present and where his feet are planted.
Asked Thursday when the disappointment of last season was behind him, he said "that happens pretty quickly."
Asked about his thoughts on the Rams' schedule – which was announced two weeks ago, but doesn't kick off for another three months – and he goes back to players' training of focusing on what's right in front of them, which was Thursday's May 28 Organized Team Activity that they just completed.
Discussions about the future in Thursday's press conference with local media also included questions about what his contract extension meant for the remainder of his career. Still, those answers were about what that meant for the present, and not the future.
"It was good (to be able to get that done)," Stafford said. "I obviously have a ton of respect for our team and our organization. Happy to have next year taken care of if I decide to play and they still want me back. But no, just excited to get that behind me because I just want to come out here and play and not think about that kind of stuff. So great to get that done sooner rather than later."
Said head coach Sean McVay: "It was good and we've had really good dialogue all throughout…really just in general, and so it was a very good, positive thing. It went in the direction that you thought, but certainly, it's great to be able to have that taken care of."
It was only seven-on-seven and there was no live contact – stipulations of OTAs rules governed by the collective bargaining agreement – so Thursday's session did not resemble a live game, but Stafford looked like a quarterback playing and throwing the ball freely, without the burden of contract discussions.
"I feel good. Body feels good," said the 38-year-old quarterback, who is preparing for his 18th NFL season. "Throwing it like I know how to throw it and for somebody my age, I feel pretty good."
For Stafford, this time of the year is about fundamentals such as "what does it look like when we break the huddle? How do we feel about our fundamentals, our assignments, all those kinds of things." It's about testing oneself mentally while still staying sharp physically, as well as getting to know teammates.
One of those new teammates is quarterback Ty Simpson, whom the Rams selected 13th overall in this year's draft as Stafford's eventual successor. Speaking of the present: Stafford said his job "first and foremost, is just to get myself and our team ready to play as best I possibly can," but he's still mentoring and supporting Simpson.
"He's a part of that team," Stafford said. "There's no question about it we're in a unique position in the fact that we play the same position. I have a ton of experience and he's just now starting his journey as an NFL player. So listen, I know he's going to watch not only me, but other guys like Stetson who's been around a little bit too and really just soak up as much coaching as he possibly can. He's a guy that asks questions. I've been trying to answer those as honestly and as thoroughly as I possibly can. He's a smart kid. He's got talent, obviously. He's a high draft pick so happy to add good players to our team. He's one of them. But my job is to go out there and get myself and our team as ready to play as I possibly can."
Stafford said the expectation is still to go year-to-year when considering his future, given that's the conversations he's had with the team. His health obviously plays a factor into that, too, as well as his family's input.
He can't predict the future, so he'd rather focus on what's in front of him and how he can put himself and the team in the best possible position to succeed for the 2026 season.
"I can't sit there and tell you what it's going to look like 365 days from now. If you can, let me know (laughter)," Stafford said. "But it's just one of those deals where I'm doing the best I can to make sure that I can play as long as I can and make sure that my family and I are all on the same page before we embark on whatever season it may be."
