Matthew Stafford Reveals the Team He Nearly Joined Before the Rams Trade
Before Matthew Stafford was traded to the Los Angeles Rams in 2021, there was another team seriously in the mix—the Indianapolis Colts. During a recent appearance on the New Heights podcast with Jason and Travis Kelce, Stafford casually mentioned that he had been looking at houses in Indianapolis before ultimately landing in LA.
The revelation confirms what many suspected at the time: the Colts were a strong contender for Stafford’s services. According to Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio, Indianapolis was firmly in the running before the Lions sent Stafford to the Rams, a move that resulted in a Super Bowl championship for LA in the 2021 season.
For the Colts, missing out on Stafford was yet another misstep in their search for a franchise quarterback since Andrew Luck’s sudden retirement in 2019. The team has shuffled through a long list of QBs, including Jacoby Brissett, Philip Rivers, Carson Wentz, Matt Ryan, and most recently, Anthony Richardson. While Richardson was drafted fourth overall in 2023 with hopes of being the long-term answer, injuries have already slowed his early development.
Had the Colts landed Stafford, their recent history might look very different. Instead, they’ve continued the cycle of patchwork solutions at quarterback, while Stafford cemented his legacy in Los Angeles with a championship.
Stafford Drops Hint About Unseen Contender in 2021 Trade Talks
