The Los Angeles Rams’ Divisional Round defeat to the Philadelphia Eagles will not be the last game played by quarterback Matthew Stafford.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport is reporting that Stafford ‘does, in fact, plan to play next season’ despite some recent retirement murmurings.
‘This is essentially what he communicated to the Rams,’ Rapoport said Wednesday. ‘He wanted to take some time off and basically told them, ‘I feel good, I don’t see why I wouldn’t play.’
Rapoport also indicated that Stafford could rework the final two years and $49million of his contract.
DailyMail.com has reached out to Stafford’s agent for confirmation.
Rams coach Sean McVay is optimistic that Stafford’s deal can be reworked in less time than it was in 2024, when the quarterback and the team finalized a new agreement in the days before training camp.
Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford warms up in Philadelphia on January 19
‘We don’t want to have that go on again,’ McVay said last week. ‘I don’t think that’s good for anybody. I think sooner than later, being able to get that clarity. Understanding clear, open and honest communication.
‘I think there’s a lot of love coming from our part. I think there’s a lot of appreciation coming from his part as well. And I think a lot sooner than later is an ideal scenario.’
Stafford guided the Rams to an NFC West title and playoff upset of the Minnesota Vikings before falling to the Eagles in the Divisional Round. He’d previously won a Super Bowl with LA in February of 2022 and in total, has led the team to three playoff appearances in four seasons since being traded by Detroit.
The soon-to-be 37-year-old signal caller would be an obvious choice to remain a starter with the Rams, but McVay didn’t actually commit to that while speaking with reporters last week.
‘We’ll talk about all those things at the appropriate time,’ McVay said. ‘I know he’s playing really good football. Obviously I love working with him. What he’s meant to our football team has been immeasurable in a positive way.’
Rams general manager Les Snead has teased the possibility of trading Stafford, who is due a $4 million bonus by mid-March.
‘You don’t want those issues dragging out throughout the offseason and kind of being a theme going into the season,’ Snead said when asked about Stafford’s contract. ‘On trades, that’s one thing, it will take someone calling or us reaching out—that’s the things that are going to be determined down the road here.’
Stafford’s wife Kelly (left) told her podcast audience that the quarterback ‘cracked four ribs’
Stafford has remained solid under center for the Rams.
Although he tossed a modest 20 touchdown passes this season – less than half of the 41 he threw in 2021 – Stafford was efficient in 2024. Just 1.5 percent of his passes were intercepted, which was his lowest rate since 2010, and the team ended the year on a high note, winning six of its last seven.
He did, however, battle some injuries in 2024, as revealed by his wife Kelly on a recent podcast.
‘He cracked four ribs,’ Kelly revealed. ‘But just didn’t really let anyone in to know really much about it. [He] continued his everyday process like nothing was wrong, would come home and be miserable.’
He originally suffered the injury in Week 15 against the San Francisco 49ers, but appeared to have aggravated it in the playoff loss in Philadelphia.
