The Los Angeles Rams were one of the best teams down the stretch of the 2023 season and part of that was getting a healthy Matthew Stafford.
Stafford struggled out of the gates to begin last year, though was largely in part due to the constant shuffling of the offensive line as well as injuries to Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp. However, once the Rams got healthy and Nacua and Kupp returned, Stafford started to resemble the quarterback the organization traded for.
Stafford was lights out in the 2025 NFL Playoffs, leading Los Angeles to a win over the Minnesota Vikings before just missing Nacua on the final drive of the game against the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Divisional Round. Stafford may be nearing the end of his career, but he’s clearly got something left in the tank that he can conjure up for big games.
Ahead of the 2025 season, Madden NFL 26 recently released some player rankings and Stafford came in as the fifth-highest ranked quarterback at 88 overall, via Adam Schefter of ESPN:
Top 10 Madden 26 quarterbacks: pic.twitter.com/KxN74r9CC8
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 31, 2025
Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson top the list at No. 1 & No. 2, respectively, with 99 ratings. Joe Burrow comes in at No. 3 at 97, while Patrick Mahomes was given a 95, which was good for fourth. Stafford being in the top five is a clear indication that he’s still respected around the league and for good reason as he’s still got one of the best arms around. He finished above other notable quarterbacks like Jared Goff, Justin Herbert and Jalen Hurts, while Baker Mayfield and Jayden Daniels rounded out the top 10.
While Stafford has been dinged for his willingness to make risky throws, there’s no doubt that he’s one of the few quarterbacks who can turn the tide of a game in a hurry. Even at 37 years old, Stafford can still sling the ball downfield for explosive plays and he should have plenty of opportunities this season with both Davante Adams and Nacua available.
The concern now is that the veteran is dealing with some back soreness that’s kept him out of training camp. While head coach Sean McVay doesn’t seem too worried at this juncture, it’ll be worth monitoring Stafford’s status.
Matthew Stafford ranked No. 59 On NFL Top 100 for 2025 season
Aside from Madden, Matthew Stafford also made the NFL Top 100 for the 2025 season as he came in at No. 59. Stafford actually dropped on the list as he was no. 42 for the 2024 season.
