Ty Simpson Reveals the Biggest Surprise About Life in Los Angeles After Going No. 13

Ty Simpson feels like a redneck in LA after attending four years of college in Alabama.

Ty Simpson Reveals the Biggest Surprise About Life in Los Angeles After Going No. 13

Ty Simpson (Image via IMAGO)

In Short
  • Ty Simpson experienced a significant culture shock moving from Tennessee to Los Angeles after being drafted by the LA Rams.
  • He rose in draft rankings to be selected 13th overall despite initial projections placing him in the second or third round.
  • Simpson aims to prove himself as a franchise quarterback while competing for the QB2 position behind Matthew Stafford.

It’s always daunting for a rookie to leave the comforts of their home and move to a completely new city after getting drafted. Ty Simpson is in a similar predicament. Simpson, who grew up in a quaint neighborhood in Martin, Tennessee, recently relocated to Los Angeles to play for the LA Rams.

Speaking with Sports Illustrated during the NFLPA Rookie Premier, Simpson revealed that it was a big culture shock for him when he first arrived in LA following the draft in April. He considers himself a ‘redneck’ in the City of Angeles.

More so because he spent four years at the University of Alabama, which is considered the heartland of the ‘redneck’ diaspora.  

I went to Alabama, which is about as redneck as it gets, and then coming to L.A. was like a culture shock. I feel like I’m fitting in pretty good, but I still believe that I’m a redneck in L.A.

Ty Simpson told Gilberto Manzano of SI

According to 247 Sports, Simpson graduated from high school as a five-star prospect and committed to play for the Crimson Tide. After sitting behind Bryce Young and Jalen Milroe the first three years, Simpson took over as the starter in 2025. He played 15 games and posted an 11-4 record. He registered 305 completions from 473 attempts (64.5%) for 3567 yards, 28 touchdowns, and 5 interceptions.

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Ty Simpson sheds light on whether the criticism of being drafted in the first round affected him

The NFL scouts’ initial evaluation of Simpson was that he would be a late second to early third round draft pick. His stock rose after a strong performance at the NFL Combine. Despite that, he still wasn’t viewed as a first-rounder.

Ty Simpson Reveals the Biggest Surprise About Life in Los Angeles After Going No. 13
Ty Simpson (Image via IMAGO)

Simpson received a big boost to his chances when Dante Moore chose to stay in college for one more year, and Brendan Sorsby faced an NCAA investigation for allegedly violating their gambling policy.

With two competitors out of the race, Simpson instantly became the number two quarterback in the draft behind Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza. Mendoza went first overall to the Las Vegas Raiders. And twelve picks later, the Rams shocked everyone by drafting Simpson at 13th overall.

Videos of Rams head coach Sean McVay acting grumpy after day one of the draft spread like wildfire on every social media platform. Analysts suspected whether McVay was against taking a quarterback that early in the draft. Simpson claimed that he did not see the clips and reiterated his earlier stance at the Rookie Premier.

I really didn’t care, to be honest with you. Everybody can have an opinion, but it’s my job to take care of my business. So, the Rams took me with the 13th overall pick, so now it’s my job to be the best player I can be, the best Ty I can be, and go out there and prove them right. I don’t really listen to all that. My job is to make sure to do whatever my team needs me to do to win and that’s what I’m going to do.

Simpson said

A few days after the draft, the Rams revealed that they kept their interest in Simpson to throw other teams off course, so that they could take him. McVay further confided that he wasn’t grumpy, but a little tense because he did not want to get on the bad side of QB1 Matthew Stafford.

Stafford’s wife, Kelly, was among the first to congratulate Simpson for becoming an LA Ram. The reigning league MVP also reached out to his protege to wish him the best.

Simpson may be the future, but he still needs to prove that he can handle the pressure of being a franchise quarterback. He can start by bagging the QB2 job over Stetson Bennett.

The Rams made a big move this week. They extended Stafford’s contract by one more year. He will earn $55 million for the 2026 season.

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