At the NFL Honors on Thursday night Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford was named 2025 NFL MVP, narrowly beating out New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye for the award. It was a deserved honor for Stafford after an incredible season, but there was also uncertainty about whether he would be returning next year to try and lead the Rams to another Super Bowl.
That question was answered during his speech, however, as Stafford announced that he would be returning to the Rams for his 18th NFL season. No one expected Stafford to make the announcement during his speech, but the Rams organization is undoubtedly ecstatic that he will be back with the team for at least one more year.
As for why he made the decision to reveal his plans at the NFL Honors show, Stafford simply felt it was the right thing to do at the right time, via Stu Jackson of theRams.com:
“Something I’ve been thinking about and honestly talking with my family about, even before the season ended, whether or not they wanted me to continue to play, whether or not I felt like I wanted to keep playing,” Stafford said, when asked what made Thursday night the right moment to make that announcement. “I ended the season on a healthy note, and was a part of a great team. I had a bunch of teammates in the crowd, some coaches in the crowd, and just felt like the right thing to do at the right moment. It’s a family decision. I have my girls with me, so just felt right. Happy to be happy to be coming back.”
It was a beautiful moment as Stafford had his four daughters on stage with him to accept the MVP award. And it was the support of his children that led to him continuing his football career:
“And I’m lucky to have little girls that want their dad to do what he loves to do. They love cheering me on and all my teammates. It’s a special thing to have that, but it’s not something I’m willing to lose over a game that I love to play. There’s no question about it. But if they weren’t behind me in that decision, I don’t care how good I played that year, the year before, whatever it is, we’d have some real talks.”
Stafford has always been about his family and making sure he is there for his children is the most important thing for him. Their support means everything to Stafford and now he will look to bring even more joy to them by leading the Rams to another Super Bowl next season.
Rams to play 49ers in first ever NFL game in Australia
It will be a long road for Matthew Stafford and the Rams to make the Super Bowl next season and one stop on that road will be in Australia as it was announced that the Rams will face the San Francisco 49ers in the first ever NFL game in Melbourne, Australia.
