After a shaky start to the 2024 season, the Rams won nine of their last 12 games to capture the NFC West title and make their second straight postseason appearance.
While Los Angeles’ 1-4 start to the season was largely a product of injuries, veteran QB Matthew Stafford appeared in each of the team’s first 16 games before resting in Week 18 with the division already clinched. In his 16th NFL season, Stafford threw for 3,762 yards and 20 touchdowns to just eight interceptions while leading L.A. to a 10-6 record in games in which he started.
With Stafford sidelined as a precaution in the season finale, fans got a glimpse at the Rams’ QB depth in real-time. While L.A. hopes its 36-year-old QB1 stays healthy throughout a potentially deep run, it has the comfort of knowing its backup has also started in a Super Bowl.
Here’s what to know about the Rams’ quarterback depth as they look to continue to build on the momentum from their push to end the 2024 season.
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Who is the Rams’ backup quarterback?
Jimmy Garoppolo is the Rams’ backup behind Matthew Stafford.
Garoppolo, 33, has done some of everything and worn many hats throughout his 11-year NFL career. A second-round pick by the Patriots in 2014, Garoppolo began his career as the backup for — and presumptive heir apparent to — future Hall of Famer Tom Brady.
With Brady’s prime extending well beyond that of a typical player, Garoppolo’s name became popular in trade talks among QB-needy teams. New England relented during the 2017 season and traded Garoppolo to San Francisco, where he assumed starter responsibilities in Week 13.
Injury cut Garoppolo’s 2018 season short, but when he returned to the field in 2019, he led the 49ers to a 13-3 record, the NFC’s No. 1 seed, and a trip to Super Bowl 54, where they lost to the Chiefs.
In 2020, injuries limited Garoppolo to six games as a starter, but he helped lead the Niners to a 10-7 record and the NFC Championship Game in 2021. There, they lost to Stafford and the eventual Super Bowl champion Rams. Injuries in 2022 marked the beginning of the end of Garoppolo’s tenure as QB1 in the Bay as he moved on to Las Vegas in 2023 before joining the Rams in 2024.
Over 11 years, Garoppolo has posted a 43-21 record in 64 games as a starter. He’s completed 67.4 percent of his passes and amassed 15,828 passing yards and thrown for 96 touchdowns.
In his lone start as a Ram, Garoppolo completed 27-of-41 pass attempts for 334 yards and two touchdowns in an insignificant five-point loss to the Seahawks.
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Rams QB depth chart
| Rank | Player |
| 1 | Matthew Stafford |
| 2 | Jimmy Garoppolo |
| 3 | Stetson Bennett |
The Rams carry three quarterbacks on their active roster. Two-time College Football Playoff national champion Stetson Bennett is L.A.’s third-string QB.
Los Angeles selected Bennett with the 128th pick of the 2023 NFL Draft. He spent his rookie season on the Reserve/Non-Football Illness list and has yet to appear in a regular season NFL game.
Bennett appeared in two preseason games for the Rams in 2024, completing 41-of-69 pass attempts for 437 yards and two touchdowns, one of which was a 47-yard toss to JJ Laap.
STETSON BENNETT GOING DEEP 🚀
📱: Stream #LARvsLAC on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/u3oEUMEPVD
— NFL (@NFL) August 18, 2024
While Bennett has yet to play in an NFL game, his two CFP National Championship Game Offensive MVP awards at Georgia suggest he steps up in the biggest moments. The NFL is a much different stage, but Bennett has an opportunity to prove he is capable if called upon.
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