So, you’re scrolling through your feed and it hits you: whatever happened to the guy who dominated college football just a few years ago? You remember the cigar. You remember the back-to-back national championships at Georgia. But lately, the radar has been pretty quiet. If you're wondering where is Stetson Bennett right now, the answer isn't a disappearing act—it's actually a complicated story of mental health, professional grinding, and a slow-burn NFL comeback.
Honestly, it’s been a weird ride. One minute he’s the "Mailman" delivering a beatdown to TCU in the 2023 CFP title game, and the next, he’s a healthy scratch on an NFL sideline. He didn't just vanish into thin air, but he did take a massive step back from the spotlight to get his head right.
The Rams Roster: Where Is Stetson Bennett Playing Now?
As of January 2026, Stetson Bennett is still a member of the Los Angeles Rams. He isn't the starter, and he isn't exactly the "backup" in the traditional sense either. He has carved out a very specific, somewhat frustrating niche for himself as the team’s Emergency QB3.
Basically, he’s the insurance policy. During the 2025 season and heading into the current 2026 playoffs, Bennett has been inactive for most game days but remains on the 53-man roster. He’s the guy who only sees the field if both Matthew Stafford and Jimmy Garoppolo get knocked out of the game. It's a "break glass in case of emergency" situation.
- Current Status: Active 53-man roster (Los Angeles Rams).
- Role: Third-string/Emergency Quarterback.
- Game Action: Mostly limited to preseason heroics and practice squad reps.
For a guy who won everything in college, standing on the sidelines in a hoodie might seem like a fall from grace. But if you talk to the people inside the Rams facility, they see it differently. They see a guy who is finally "present."
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That Mysterious 2023 Disappearance
To understand why people are still asking where is Stetson Bennett, you have to look back at his rookie year. After being drafted in the fourth round of the 2023 NFL Draft, he just... stopped being there. He was placed on the Reserve/Non-Football Illness (NFI) list in September 2023 and missed the entire season.
The Rams were tight-lipped. The media was guessing. It wasn't until later that Bennett confirmed he had stepped away to deal with his mental health. He went back to Georgia, stayed away from the cameras, and focused on himself.
That’s a big deal. In the hyper-masculine world of the NFL, walking away from your rookie season to fix your mind is a gamble. Most guys don't get a second chance. But Sean McVay and Les Snead kept a spot for him. They saw something in the "Mailman" that they weren't ready to give up on.
The 2025 Re-Emergence and Preseason Grit
Fast forward through the 2024 season—which was mostly a "re-onboarding" year—to the summer of 2025. This is when the question of where is Stetson Bennett started getting an exciting answer.
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During the 2025 preseason, Bennett looked like his old self. Well, mostly. There were still interceptions (four in one game against the Cowboys, which is... a lot), but he also threw a game-winning touchdown with eight seconds left. He was smiling. He was taking hits and getting back up.
Rams offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur noted that Bennett’s "intent" was finally right. He wasn't the "deer in the headlights" rookie anymore. He was a 28-year-old veteran (yeah, he’s older than some established starters) who finally understood the playbook. He outperformed several bubble players to secure his roster spot for the 2025-2026 stretch.
Why he’s still on the team:
- Chemistry: He’s got a weirdly good connection with young guys like Jordan Whittington.
- Affordability: He’s still on his rookie deal, which is a bargain for a backup who knows the system.
- The Stafford Factor: Learning under Matthew Stafford (another Georgia legend) is the best possible apprenticeship.
The Succession Plan: Life After Stafford?
Here is the spicy part. Matthew Stafford isn't getting any younger. He’s 37, dealing with chronic back issues, and every offseason brings retirement rumors. While the Rams are often linked to big-name reclamation projects like Anthony Richardson, there’s a quiet belief that Bennett could be a bridge.
Is he the future franchise QB? Probably not. But could he start four games and win three of them if Stafford goes down? The Rams seem to think so. They didn't draft a QB in 2025, and they haven't cut him despite the early-career drama. That says a lot.
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Practical Insights for Fans and Analysts
If you're following Bennett's career or wondering if he's worth a roster spot in your deep dynasty fantasy league, here’s the reality:
- Don't expect stats: As long as Stafford and Garoppolo are healthy, Bennett's stat line will be zeroes. He is a "practice player" right now.
- Watch the preseason: This is where his future is decided. If he keeps showing that "never-say-die" attitude in the August games, he’ll keep a job in the NFL for a decade.
- Mental Health Matters: His story is actually a blueprint for how teams can support players. He took his time, the team waited, and now he’s a functional part of an NFL room.
The "Mailman" might not be delivering touchdowns on Sunday Night Football right now, but he’s still in the building. He's in the film room. He's on the practice field. For a guy who was once a walk-on that nobody wanted, just being "here" is a victory.
To keep track of his next move, you should keep an eye on the Rams' active/inactive lists on Saturday mornings during the playoffs. While he's usually the third guy, an injury to Garoppolo would suddenly put Bennett one snap away from the biggest stage in sports—again.
Next, you might want to look at the Rams' 2026 salary cap situation to see how they're planning to handle the quarterback room once Stafford's contract enters its final phase.