Bill Belichick Compares Matthew Stafford to Tom Brady, QB Reacts to Praise in Video

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford expressed appreciation this week for former New England Patriots and current University of North Carolina head coach Bill Belichick comparing him to legendary quarterback Tom Brady.

During an appearance Monday on the Let's Go! podcast with Jim Gray (h/t Tyler Greenawalt of Rams Wire), Belichick drew parallels between Stafford and Brady, saying, "I don't want to put him in a class with Tom, but it's reminiscent of Brady, where it keeps getting better and better and better. He's gotten smarter. He understands more. He knows how to use his weapons maybe just a split second quicker. He's harder to fool."

Later on the same podcast, Stafford offered a response to Belichick's assessment, saying, "I appreciate those words from Coach. This quarterback position is something where you're learning every single day on the job. And if you're not, you're not going to make it."

Despite being 37 years old and in the midst of his 17th NFL season, Stafford is trending toward one of the best years of his career.

Stafford has led the Rams to a 6-2 start, and he is completing 67.2 percent of his passes for 2,174 yards and a league-leading 21 touchdowns, while throwing only two interceptions.

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After spending his first 12 seasons with the Detroit Lions, Stafford arrived in L.A. in 2021 and led the Rams to a Super Bowl win in his first season with the franchise.

Overall, Stafford is 40-25 as a starter with the Rams, and he has taken them to the playoffs three times.

While Stafford's two career Pro Bowl selections and one Super Bowl win pale in comparison to Brady's 15 Pro Bowls, seven Super Bowl wins, five Super Bowl MVP awards and three NFL MVP awards, they are similar in that they both managed to excel during the twilight of his career.

When Brady left the New England Patriots in 2020 after 20 seasons, there were legitimate questions about whether he had anything left in the tank.

However, at 43 years of age, he led the Bucs to a Super Bowl win. He also reached the 40-touchdown mark in each of his first two seasons in Tampa.

Brady is a surefire Hall of Famer once eligible since he is the NFL's all-time leader in passing yardage, passing touchdowns and Super Bowl wins.

Stafford's Hall of Fame case isn't as cut and dry, but there is little question that he continues to strengthen it significantly by playing at a high level this late in his career.

A second Super Bowl win would remove any doubt regarding Stafford's credentials, and with the way he and the Rams are playing right now, it could be within reach.