Former Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford fell short of his second Super Bowl appearance since the blockbuster trade that sent him to Los Angeles in 2021, but will get at least one more chance to make it.
Stafford had been surrounded by retirement rumors heading into the last offseason, but ultimately decided to return to the Los Angeles Rams on a two-year contract. The Rams reportedly had a deal in place with Stafford that would allow him to mull over his NFL future after this season and decide whether to return or retire, but Stafford may have made that decision already — even before his team’s title game loss.
Matthew Stafford Set on Retirement Decision
Though Stafford led the Rams to a late rally in Sunday’s NFC Championship game against the rival Seattle Seahawks, they ran out of time and lost 31-27. Stafford would have had the chance to cement his Hall of Fame resume with another Super Bowl win, but SI.com’s Greg Bishop reported that Stafford is ready to return and try again in 2026.
“The handshake deal remains in place,” Bishop wrote. “Each year, Stafford and the Rams will do their own assessments. Never say never, but no one in his inner circle believes Stafford will retire after this season, even if he wins another championship and could retire, like Elway, completing the rarest sendoff in pro footballâout on top.”
The Rams return many of their important pieces both on offense and defense, giving Stafford a roster expected to again compete for the NFC West and a Super Bowl.
The Lions have also found success with their main piece from the Stafford trade. Quarterback Jared Goff helped turn the Lions into title contenders, though they took a step back this season and fell short of the playoffs.
Lions head coach Dan Campbell put to rest any speculation that the team could move on from Goff after the disappointing season, calling him a “study” in an appearance on 97.1 The Ticket.
âJared Goff is a stud. Heâs an absolute stud. Weâre fortunate to have him as a quarterback,â Campbell said. âHeâs a winning quarterback in this league. He played at a very high level all season long.â
Matthew Stafford Could Advance Hall of Fame Legacy
Stafford didn’t always appear on track for a Hall of Fame legacy. He endured a difficult tenure in Detroit, turning in some excellent individual play but struggling with thin rosters. Stafford earned just one Pro Bowl selection with the Lions and no wins in his one playoff appearances, but found immediate success with the Rams after being traded in 2021.
Owen Hillman of USA Today’s UGA Wire suggested that Stafford could have another big NFL honor coming, either the AP Offensive Player or the Year or, more likely, a league MVP award.
“The OPOY is a great award, but to quarterbacks, it is often considered a consolation prize for not winning MVP,” Hillman wrote. “With Stafford leading the league in passing yards (4,707) and passing touchdowns (46) while having just eight interceptions, it’s unlikely that Stafford doesn’t win MVP or OPOY, so with that logic, it should be a done deal that Stafford wins MVP.”
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Ex-Lions QB Matthew Stafford Makes Retirement Decision Amid Title Game Loss appeared first on Heavy Sports.