Matthew Stafford Opens Up on Retirement Talk After Rams Season

After the Los Angeles Rams lost to the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Championship on Sunday, quarterback Matthew Stafford was not ready to discuss his potential retirement.

“I can’t generalize six months of my life 10 minutes after a loss,” Stafford said. “Appreciate the guys in this locker room a whole hell of a lot … And that’s all I’ll answer for you.”

But on Monday in a new episode of the Let’s Go! podcast, Stafford opened up about rumors that he will retire and not return to the Rams next season. Although the Super Bowl champion quarterback is under contract with LA next season, Stafford will turn 38 on Feb. 7 and may be ready to wrap up a 17-season career.

“It’ll be a lot that goes into it,” Stafford said when asked about how he will decide when he will retire. “It’s a physical, a mental and emotional decision, a personal and a family decision as well… 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 it deserves before I start thinking personally about what’s next for me and my family.”

Even though the season did not end with the Rams hoisting the Vince Lombardi Trophy, Stafford would be going out on a high note if he retired now. He won the PFWA’s NFL Most Valuable Player Award, is a frontrunner to win the AP’s NFL MVP and earned his third Pro Bowl selection this season.

But Stafford may want to stick around for another season to try to win a second Super Bowl championship with the Rams before retiring.

Stafford Believes He Still Has Some “Good Football Left”

Before the NFC Championship, NFL insider Ian Rapoport reported that Stafford has told people close to him he plans to return next season no matter what. Rapoport acknowledged that the Rams winning the Super Bowl could affect that decision.

But the Rams ultimately lost in the NFC Championship and will not win the Super Bowl this season. Therefore, it seems Stafford is even more likely to return for 2026.

“My understanding is he’s told people close to him that he does believe he has some good football left, telling them, no matter what, he wants to be back next year,” Rapoport said. “Now, this was before the Rams went on this little run and ended up in the title game. No one knows for sure for sure if the Rams win the Super Bowl, does Matthew Stafford walk away? But at least we know he believes he has plenty left.”

Stafford has a $40 million salary that becomes guaranteed on the fifth day of the league new year in March. If he plans to retire, a decision must be made before then.

Photo Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images

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