Matthew Stafford and Les Snead
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Rams' general manager Les Snead offered a surprising outlook on Matthew Stafford's future
The Los Angeles Rams have kicked off the offseason with a bang, as they pulled off a blockbuster trade with the Kansas City Chiefs earlier this week for All-Pro cornerback Trent McDuffie. After coming up just short in the NFC Championship Game last season, it’s clear that the Rams are loading up in an attempt to find their way back to the Super Bowl.
Considering how quarterback Matthew Stafford, who is fresh off winning the 2025 MVP Award, is approaching the end of his career, it makes sense that L.A. is doing what it can to go on another championship run. However, some recent comments from general manager Les Snead may indicate that Stafford still has a couple of years of football left in him.
Rams Not ‘Desperate’ to Find Matthew Stafford’s Eventual Successor
After getting traded to the Rams in 2021, Stafford has experienced a renaissance of sorts. He immediately led the team to victory in Super Bowl LVI, and he has helped L.A. remain a consistent playoff contender ever since then (aside from his injury-plagued 2022 campaign). With Stafford leading the way on offense, Los Angeles has a shot to win every time it takes the field.
Stafford turned in the best season of his career in 2025, as he led the league in passing yards (4,707) and passing touchdowns (46) on his way to winning his first MVP Award. And yet, as he prepares to enter his age-38 season, it’s clear the end is closer than the beginning for Stafford. Nobody knows when he will retire, but the Rams are intent on contending while he’s still under center.
At some point, though, Los Angeles is going to have to find a replacement for Stafford, regardless of whether or not it actually wants to. Snead knows that time is coming sooner rather than later, but as for the current offseason, it doesn’t sound like an issue he is too concerned with, saying the Rams aren’t “desperate” to find their next quarterback of the future just yet.
“We’re always working through the scenarios,” Snead said, via the Rams’ official website. “We’re well aware Matthew’s closer to retirement than not. Matthew and I had a fun text chain or call the night that Philip Rivers was playing a Thursday night game. He was on date night, and I’m like, ‘This guy’s 44.’ That was a joking thing, but let’s call it like it is. We’ve all been honest on that. We’re not desperate to. That’s always a possibility, but it’s not a desperate matter.”
Rams Rolling with Matthew Stafford Until the Wheels Fall Off
Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams
GettyMatthew Stafford #9 of the Los Angeles Rams calls a play against the Arizona Cardinals.
Considering how he’s fresh off an MVP campaign, there’s no incentive for the Rams to move on from Stafford. He has pushed off retirement for at least one more year, for Snead and company are going to be hard at work when it comes to building the roster around him. We’ve already seen that with the team’s decision to pull off its aforementioned move for McDuffie, and it feels like that may only be the tip of the iceberg.
Could Los Angeles add a quarterback that it will look to develop as Stafford’s successor this offseason? It’s certainly a possibility, but it’s not exactly the top item on Snead’s to-do list. Instead, he’s focused on doing whatever he can to win while Stafford is in town, and so far, the indication is that it will lead to an explosive offseason of work.