Following the conclusion of the 2025 season, there were questions about the future of quarterback Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams. If Stafford wanted to return, there was no doubt that the Rams would have him back. Following an MVP-caliber season and at 37 years of age, it wouldn’t have been shocking to see Stafford opt for retirement.
The assumption may have been that Stafford would be back. However, even as early as this past week, head coach Sean McVay wasn’t certain on the future of his quarterback. Said McVay,
“He deserves as much time as he needs. I’m hopeful, but with respect to him, (we) haven’t set any sort of timetable. I don’t get the sense he wants to let it drag on either, and then we’ll just kind of see how he’s feeling. I’m keeping my fingers crossed, like you guys, that he wants to still play.”
On Thursday night while accepting his MVP award, Stafford confirmed that he would be back in 2026. At the end of his acceptance speech Stafford said, “I can’t wait for you to cheer me on next year when we’re out there kicking ass. And so I’ll see you guys next year. Hopefully, I’m not at this event and we’re getting ready for another game at SoFi.”
The Rams quarterback confirmed with the AP that it did in fact mean that he would be back in 2026. “I figured, ‘Shoot, I don’t really do the social media thing’,” said Stafford. This will be an easier way to let everyone know how I’m feeling.”
Stafford winning the MVP was bittersweet in a sense. If the Rams couldn’t win the Super Bowl, at least their quarterback was getting recognition for an incredible season. At the same time, with Stafford turning 38, it’s also a reminder that there aren’t many of those types of seasons left. Sitting on two first-round picks, the Rams wasted an MVP season from Stafford, falling short in the NFC Championship game.
While Stafford won MVP, in a sense, the Rams failed Stafford for the first time in his career. In the two losses to the Seahawks, Stafford threw for 831 yards and six touchdowns with zero interceptions. Instead of making a big-play move that may have secured the one-seed, the Rams acquired Roger McCreary for a Day 3 pick swap who spent most of the season injured.
That’s not an indictment on McCreary or what he can be if the Rams decide to bring him back. However, despite having issues on defense and at the cornerback position all season, the front office seemed content rolling with the core group. For the first time since the Rams traded for Stafford, they got a non-aggressive Les Snead. It’s as if winning in 2021 made the front office content.
In a sense, the coaching staff has also had that mindset. The Rams have gone into the playoffs over the past few seasons with the idea that seeding doesn’t matter. As long as they are in the dance, they’d figure it out.
Just last season before the 2024 playoffs, McVay said, “If you asked, does the third or the fourth seed really matter? It doesn’t because I know that you’re going to play an excellent team, whoever ends up as the five, six, or seven of the teams that could be in that spot.”
The Rams were arguably one of the two best teams in the NFL going into the playoffs. Winning three consecutive games on the road was always going to be a tall ask. There’s a reason only four teams have done it since 1978. By championship Sunday, the Rams had played seven of their last nine games on the road, including playoff games in Carolina, Chicago, and Seattle. That’s a lot of travel. What if the Rams had secured the one seed or played the Seahawks at SoFi? The Rams beat the Seahawks in Los Angeles back in Week 11.
Getting that bye week and simply playing at home is such an advantage in the playoffs. The Rams were 7-1 at home last season and the last time they lost a home game from the month of December onwards in which all of their key starters played was in Week 18 in 2021. They are 9-0 since losing in overtime to the San Francisco 49ers.
There’s no guarantee that the Rams will get another season similar to what they got from Stafford this year. Heading into the offseason, there will almost certainly be questions about Stafford’s back and his health as he turns 38. It’s why not capitalizing on this type of season is so incredibly disappointing. At the same time, it’s even more reason why they can’t make that same mistake twice in 2026.
Everything has been set up for the Rams to push all of their chips into the middle of the table in 2026. Until April, they will have two first-round picks to work with if they want to make a splash move. Using those picks on a player that can help now and is more developed may be more beneficial than a rookie at pick 29 or early in the second-round. The Rams will also have the eighth-most effective cap space to work with and will have the ability to open up more if needed. With very little money tied into future years, the Rams can borrow from 2027 and 2028 as needed.
This is a team that’s been re-tooled and is ready to make a push once again as they were in 2021. The Rams would be doing a disservice to Stafford if they didn’t take an all-in approach. To be clear, that doesn’t mean that they should be reckless. However, drafting well and having the cap space that they have has given them flexibility to have that mindset. If next season ends up being Stafford’s last, the Rams owe it to him to go for it one more time.
