The Los Angeles Rams fell just short to the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Championship Game and now have several questions to answer this offseason.
Chief among them is whether Matthew Stafford will return after an MVP-caliber year in 2025. He just finished his 17th NFL season and will turn 38 next month, so his future is very much in question.
Stafford has shown that he can still play at an elite level but will need to determine if he wants to go through the grind of another NFL season.
During an appearance on SiriusXM’s “Let’s Go” podcast, Stafford said he is going to take some time before deciding on a potential return in 2026:
“It’ll be a lot that goes into it,. It’s a physical, a mental and emotional decision, a personal and a family decision as well. So, we’ll figure all that kind of stuff out with some time. I know I had a ton of fun playing football this season and had so much fun playing for the Rams. So when I’m ready to figure that out, I’ll be ready to figure that out. That moment isn’t right now. I have so much more time, I feel like, to reflect on just the people and the season that we just had. I want to appreciate that and give it the time that it deserves before I start thinking personally about what’s next for me and my family.”
Stafford is set to earn $40 million if he returns to the Rams next season, but he may ask for another raise which could further complicate things. L.A. restructured his contract last offseason after a long standoff that led to several teams checking in on Stafford’s availability.
There’s no doubt that Stafford and the Rams are the best match for each other, so if the veteran quarterback decides to come back for another year, L.A. will need to do everything possible to ensure it is with them in order to extend their Super Bowl window.
After putting together an MVP-caliber season in 2025, Stafford showed he clearly still has a lot left in the tank.
Matthew Stafford tells Cooper Kupp to go win Super Bowl
After the Rams’ loss to the Seahawks, Stafford found his former teammate Cooper Kupp and told him to win the Super Bowl.
Kupp is in his first season with the Seahawks after spending the previous eight in L.A. He caught a touchdown against the Rams in the NFC Championship Game and had a key catch for a first down on Seattle’s final drive that allowed them to run out most of the clock.
