Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams
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Matthew Stafford #9 of the Los Angeles Rams leads the team off the field before an NFL Preseason 2025 game against the Dallas Cowboys.
Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams are coming off a strong campaign, but one that left them hungry for more.
For the QB, it marked his first career First Team All-Pro selection and Most Valuable Player honor, while also earning his third official (and fourth technical) trip to the Pro Bowl/Pro Bowl Games.
While there could be more news in the works for Stafford, he is already a “winner.”
Matthew Stafford Among ‘Winners’ From 2025 Season
Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams
GettyMatthew Stafford #9 of the Los Angeles Rams on the field after defeating the Carolina Panthers.
Stafford, 38, led the NFL in passing yards and touchdowns during the regular season, leading the Rams to a 12-5 record and the NFC Championship Game. They fell short in that contest, but USA Today’s Jacob Camenker listed Stafford as a “winner” of the 2025 season.
The one-time Super Bowl champion QB had what many are considering the best season of his career, and gave the reigning champs, the Seattle Seahawks, the best run for their money.
Even after the Rams lost to those Seahawks, Camenker did not ding Stafford.
“Look, picking a non-Sam Darnold or Seahawks winner is hard. Plenty of guys had great seasons, but most of them ended bitterly with playoff losses,” Camenker wrote on February 13. “That’s certainly true of Stafford.
“That MVP award could go a long way when it eventually comes time to discuss Stafford’s Hall of Fame credentials. He now has both an MVP and a Super Bowl win which, when coupled with his top-10 career marks in passing yards and passing touchdowns, could go a long way toward earning him enshrinement in Canton.”
Camenker said Stafford’s impending return for the 2026 season is the “best part,” affording the veteran to build on his potential HoF resume and, potentially, lead the Rams to another title.
Rams Get Encouraging Super Bowl Outlook
Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams
GettyMatthew Stafford #9 of the Los Angeles Rams reacts against the Seattle Seahawks during the NFC Championship Game.
Stafford and the Rams enter the 2026 offseason behind only the Seahawks for the best odds to win the Super Bowl next season, per aggregator Vegas Insider on February 14.
They are drawing on from some individual sites.
NFL.com’s Bucky Brooks, a former professional player and scout, believes the Rams have the second-biggest Super Bowl window, again behind only the Seahawks. The Rams will eventually need to replace Stafford, but he is a key factor in Brooks’ equation.
“Sean McVay’s brilliance as a leader and play-caller will keep the Rams in the hunt for as long as he roams the sidelines,” Brooks wrote for NFL.com on February 13. “Of course, the decision by 2025 MVP Matthew Stafford to return certainly cements McVay’s immediate chances of making another title run.
“Given the Rams’ returning lineup and their coaching prowess, Super Bowl LXI could be a home game for the NFC heavyweights.”
Matthew Stafford Question Still Looms Over Rams
Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams
GettyLos Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford #9 takes the field before a game against the Detroit Lions.
The Rams know that Stafford is returning in 2026, but it remains unclear if he is willing to play for the $40 million salary he is in line for or if he wants a raise following his stellar campaign, which began with an ominous back injury during the offseason.
Stafford’s salary becomes fully guaranteed on March 15, giving him and the Rams just over one month to determine how they want to proceed.
The Rams are in fine shape financially, but reworking Stafford’s deal could impact future years.
Rams’ Matthew Stafford Draws Attention After Major Career Update