Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams
Getty
Matthew Stafford #9 of the Los Angeles Rams yells to his team before a snap in the NFC Championship Game against the Seattle Seahawks.
Matthew Stafford’s offseason is off to a vastly different start in 2026 than in 2025, when his future with the Los Angeles Rams was in question. This time, the discussion (really, debate) has centered on his performance, both in 2025 and career-wise.
On the former, Stafford continues to receive kudos for his MVP-winning season, in which he led the NFL in passing yards and touchdowns.
Fittingly, among the praise, the Rams sent out a message featuring their franchise QB.
Rams Drop Matthew Stafford Message
Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams
GettyMatthew Stafford #9 of the Los Angeles Rams during a game against the New Orleans Saints.
Weeks after the award win was made official, the Rams are still celebrating their veteran passer on social media.
“Don’t tap [face exhaling emoji],” the Rams captioned a post on X on February 21, including a blacked-out image of Stafford–emulating the team’s “Midnight Mode” uniforms–for use as a cellphone background.
Fans certainly took advantage.
Several of them replied in the comments, noting the image’s edgy look and showing it off on their personal devices.
The Rams also released a set of Stafford-themed wallpapers on February 18.
The attention is the result of his performance, and it is surely a refreshing turn for the Rams, who allowed Stafford to explore his trade value last offseason before renegotiating his contract and could repeat the latter part of that process this offseason.
Matthew Stafford Draws Renewed Attention
Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams
GettyMatthew Stafford #9 of the Los Angeles Rams looks on during the NFC Championship Game against the Seattle Seahawks.
Stafford completed 65% of his passes for 4,707 yards, 46 touchdowns, and 8 interceptions during the 2025 regular season, posting a 936-6-1 line on 55.5% completion during the Rams’ two postseason contests.
The playoff stats did not play into Stafford’s MVP case.
They did, however, bolster his claim to it, particularly amid his top competition, New England Patriots QB Drake Maye’s performance.
“Matthew Stafford led all QBs in: PFF passing grade (91.7), Big Time Throw rate (7.7%), Passing yards (4,707), Passing TDs (46), PFF Wins Above Replacement,” PFF posted on X on February 21.
“No. 6 on the PFF 101 [top players list].”
Stafford’s place among the all-time greats has increasingly come into question, with the 38-year-old QB in the final years of his NFL career.
However, there has also long been a school of thought that he belonged in the conversation, but he lacked team success. Fittingly, the increased scrutiny over Stafford’s career standing is the result of his achieving greater team success with the Rams, not just his NFL run nearing its end.
Stafford is 46-28 during the regular season in five seasons with the Rams.
He only reached a .500 career winning percentage this past season after beginning his career 74-90-1 with the Detroit Lions.
Matthew Stafford Deadline Approaching
Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams
GettyMatthew Stafford #9 of the Los Angeles Rams looks on after facing the Arizona Cardinals.
Stafford and the Rams are up against the clock to decide on what to do about his salary in the final year of a two-year, $84 million contract.
He is set to earn $40 million in 2026, and that will become fully guaranteed on March 15. There is also a $33.6 million cap hit in 2027, a void year after his deal expires. The only way the Rams can reduce that number is by extending Stafford.
That seemed like a lofty proposition before the season, when he dealt with a back injury.
It should be on the table for both sides, even if they only do another short-term agreement that keeps Stafford healthy and the Rams flexible.