Jimmy Garoppolo is considering retirement, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, a development that could ripple beyond one quarterback’s future and into the Los Angeles Rams’ plans for the 2026 season.
The Rams are looking for a competent backup for Matthew Stafford, and that search could matter more if Stafford goes down for any stretch in 2026. Garoppolo had been one of the names in the mix, but his possible exit leaves Los Angeles with fewer experienced options as it tries to protect a roster that is being built to go all-in next season.
That is why the Rams are also keeping track of other quarterbacks who could fit the job. Russell Wilson is listed as a free agent option, while Tyrod Taylor, Cooper Rush and Teddy Bridgewater are among the other veteran names available. Wilson’s struggles with the New York Giants last year are part of the picture, even if his résumé still makes him one of the more recognizable choices.
The trade market could also matter. Anthony Richardson, the fourth overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, is reportedly being shopped by the Indianapolis Colts, and Spencer Rattler is another name to watch after being taken by the New Orleans Saints in the fifth round in 2024. Rattler is under contract on his rookie deal for the next two seasons, and he just completed a season in which he threw for 1,586 yards and eight touchdowns in nine games and eight starts.
The tension for Los Angeles is simple: it wants to be aggressive for 2026, but quarterback insurance is not a small detail when Stafford is the player underneath the entire plan. Garoppolo’s possible retirement narrows the path, and the Rams may have to choose between paying for a veteran stopgap or betting on a younger arm before the season arrives.
