Jan. 26 (UPI) — Matthew Stafford declined to speculate on his future when asked about his plans for 2026 after the Los Angeles Rams loss in the NFC title game.
The veteran quarterback threw for 374 yards and three scores in the 31-27 loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday in Seattle.
“I can’t generalize six months of my life 10 minutes after a loss,” Stafford told reporters, when asked about returning in 2026. “I appreciate the guys in this locker room a whole hell of a lot. They helped me and helped our team be as succesful as we were this year.
“That’s all I’ll answer for you.”
THAT’S A TOUCHDOWN! ( A great one at that )
@NFLonFOX | #RamsHouse pic.twitter.com/MIjiPfwBKi— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) January 26, 2026
Stafford, who was named the NFL MVP by the Pro Football Writers of America on Wednesday, totaled a league- and career-high 46 touchdown passes against eight interceptions this season. He also logged a league-high 4,707 passing yards.
He signed a 2-year, $84 million restructured contract in March. That deal includes $40 million guaranteed on March 15, the fifth day of the new league year. He is set to become an unrestricted free agent after the 2026 campaign.
Stafford, 37, totaled 65,516 yards, 423 touchdowns and 196 interceptions through the first 17 years of his decorated NFL tenure. The Super Bowl LVI champion owns a 7-6 postseason record, with all seven of his wins with the Rams.
The No. 1 overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft went 0-3 in the playoffs over his first 12 seasons with the Detroit Lions.
Rams coach Sean McVay said he was “short on words” after Sunday’s loss, but said the 2025-26 roster was “as special of a group” as he has ever had.
McVay deferred to Stafford when asked if he thinks the quarterback will return in 2026.
“If he still wants to play,” McVay said. “I know that if he wants to, he’s still playing at a pretty damn good clip. I mean, he’s the MVP of the league. … I got respect for everybody else, but this guy played at a level that’s just different.”