Matthew Stafford has already authored one of the more compelling quarterback arcs in modern NFL history after serving the Detroit Lions for over a decade and then winning a Super Bowl with the Los Angeles Rams.
Now, the veteran signal-caller has confirmed he will return for the 2026 season.
The announcement came during the NFL Honors ceremony on Thursday, February 5. Stafford was nominated for league MVP alongside Drake Maye, Josh Allen, Trevor Lawrence, and Christian McCaffrey.
In a competitive field, he emerged victorious after a sensational campaign under center.
The 17-year veteran threw 46 touchdown passes, which led the league and set a new career high for passing touchdowns in a season. He also racked up 4,707 passing yards, a mark that also ranked first in the NFL.
Yet the award itself was not the biggest headline of the night. After accepting MVP honors, Stafford revealed he would not be retiring and would instead return to lead the Rams for another season.
“So I’ll see you guys next year,” he said, as he stood on the stage along with his four young daughters.
Stafford out for revenge after narrow loss
The decision followed a disappointing playoff conclusion. The Rams saw their 2025-26 campaign end with a 31-27 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, falling short of a trip to the Super Bowl.
Los Angeles head coach Sean McVay described the emotional aftermath as “pretty numb”.
He added: “The finality of all of it when you don’t allow yourself to even think about anything other than just advancing, I felt like we were going to be the team on that podium and we weren’t.”
At 37, many quarterbacks might consider stepping away after securing MVP honors. But for Stafford, the competitive drive remains intact.
While the Rams were left watching from home, the Seahawks went on to capture Super Bowl LX with a 29-13 victory over New England.
NFL MVP expected Seattle triumph
Reflecting on the championship matchup, Stafford indicated the outcome aligned with his expectations.
“It went about as I expected, to be honest with you,” Stafford said on SiriusXM’s “Let’s Go” podcast. “That’s kind of how I thought the game was going to go. New England‘s defense kept them in it for as long as they could.”
“And really, Seattle moved the ball well, just didn’t score down there inside the – once they crossed the 50, stalled out a couple of times. I think it could have been not as close as it was, really.”
Drawing from his preparation habits, Stafford emphasized how familiarity shaped his perspective while watching the game unfold.
“I’ve watched, obviously, a ton of Seattle tape, so I knew what was coming a lot of the time,” he said on the show. “And I had watched some crossover tape with New England‘s offense, so I had a little bit of a feel for that.”
His return signals unfinished business with the Rams, as he continues to pursue another championship run.
Given his résumé and late-career resurgence, few would dismiss the possibility that the 2026-27 season could deliver exactly what he is chasing.
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