Matthew Stafford

All signs are reportedly pointing toward Matthew Stafford still being under center for the Los Angeles Rams during the 2025 season.

NFL Network's Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport reported Sunday that the 37-year-old "intends to play … with his arm and body feeling good after a solid season that saw him lead the Rams to the playoffs."

What's more, "the Rams would welcome him back."

However, the contract may be something both sides have to work through before he takes the field.

Pelissero and Rapoport explained it is "unlikely that Stafford would play for just $27 million in 2025 after playing for $40 million last year." They also noted the veteran is expected to be "reasonable," though, during potential negotiations.

It comes as no surprise that Los Angeles wants him back, as it has enjoyed three playoff appearances and a Super Bowl title in Stafford's four years as the starting quarterback. The 2022 season was the only time it didn't make the playoffs during that tenure, and that was the year injuries limited Stafford to just nine games.

The 2023 Pro Bowler was solid again this past season as he went 10-6 as a starter while completing 65.8 percent of his passes for 3,762 yards, 20 touchdowns and eight interceptions.

Everything likely won't look the same for Stafford in 2025 if and when he does return, as one of his most reliable targets in Los Angeles could be on the way out. After all,Cooper Kupp took to social media Monday and revealed the Rams are looking to trade him this offseason even though he doesn't "agree with the decision."

Such a move would put more on Puka Nacua's shoulders as the No. 1 option in the aerial attack next season.

At least it appears Nacua will have some continuity at quarterback with Stafford set to return.

It looks like Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford has some unfinished business in the NFL.

Dan Graziano of ESPN reported that the 37-year-old is "likely to return to L.A. in 2025" and that the team is going to look for ways to lower Stafford's cap hit:

The past two seasons have been good for Stafford, who turned 37 on Friday and believes the Rams' leadership gives them the ability to contend every year. Something will have to be done with Stafford's contract, though, as was the case last offseason when the Rams slid $5 million of his 2025 money into 2024 and guaranteed him $40 million. Of that $40 million in guarantees, $4 million comes in the form of a 2025 roster bonus due next month. The rest of his 2025 compensation is a non-guaranteed $23 million. His current cap hit for 2025 is roughly $50 million, so look for the team to convert salary into bonuses again to lower the hit and move Stafford's 2025 compensation into a range more befitting of a good starting NFL quarterback.

Jeremy Fowler of ESPN added that the Rams aren't "overly concerned" about the chances of Stafford departing for another team despite the issue of his contract and that the quarterback was "happy with the direction of the offense:"

Last summer's negotiation wasn't easy, and this year's could be even more difficult, considering his status as a top-shelf QB in a league starved for them. Stafford ranked 12th in QBR in 2024 (64.7).By all accounts, Stafford was happy with the direction of the offense this season, and multiple people with the team say it doesn't seem as if changes are coming. But other teams will inevitably call the Rams to gauge trade interest anyway. Stafford will be the top quarterback available if Los Angeles entertains the idea of moving him.

This article will be updated soon to provide more information and analysis.

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Kelly Stafford, the wife of Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, does not believe trading star wideout Cooper Kupp is in her husband or his team's best interests.

"My husband wants to win. He's not trying to put his team in a bad situation," Kelly Stafford said on her podcast The Morning After.

She continued: "I will say the trading away of Cooper, I guess I'm just a little, I'm confused. Because we were one play away from going to the NFC Championship, and I think if we go, we win."

Kupp said in a Monday post on X that the Rams planned to trade him "immediately."

"I don't agree with the decision and always believed it was going to begin and end in LA," Kupp wrote.

Stafford and Kupp have played four seasons together. The duo led the Rams to victory in Super Bowl LVI after the 2021 season.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported last week that Stafford plans to return to the Rams in 2025, although Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated reported days later that Stafford could be available this offseason.

Kelly Stafford mentioned the trade rumors surrounding her husband on the podcast:

Right now, if the Rams decided that they wanted to trade him, or Matthew decided he didn't want to play for the Rams, I'm good. I would move my family. Yeah, that might be tough. First month, hard. After that, turns out, I like my kids to learn how to be resilient.

The ball's really not in our court in that. But I value being respected and wanted over convenience. So it would be very convenient to stay. Very easy. But if someone doesn't feel valued, then I'm like, let's hit the road. Let's go on an adventure.

I will say, we want to be here. but I'm not scared of going elsewhere, and I don't think he is, either.

Stafford previously addressed Kupp's pending departure in a Wednesday interview with CBS Sports.

"It's tough. I've been around long enough to know that anything is possible, but Cooper's been a pillar of this organization and this community for a long time, since he got drafted here," Stafford said (4:00 of the video below.)

Stafford continued: "Probably spent more time with Cooper Kupp than any other teammate I've ever had... I'll miss him not being on the same team."

The Rams advanced to the Divisional Round this winter before falling short in a 28-22 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.

This time it was not Kupp serving as Stafford's top target but rather Puka Nacua, who led the Rams with 79 catches for 990 yards during his second NFL season.

Kupp signed a three-year extension worth up to $80 million after he led the NFL with 145 receptions during the 2021 season.

There is only $5 million in guaranteed money remaining on that deal, but the current structure of the contract carries cap hits of more than $27 million in both 2025 and 2026, per Spotrac.

With Nacua serving as the team's top receiver, the Rams would have likely needed to restructure that contract in order to retain Kupp. Any team trading for Kupp will likely do the same.

Stafford meanwhile has two years and $58 million remaining on his current contract, per Spotrac. He receives $4 million in guaranteed money if he is still on the roster as of March 14.

That could mean a decision regarding Stafford's future with the team will take place within the next month. Head coach Sean McVay said in January he would like to resolve Stafford's contract situation "sooner than later."

Matthew Stafford is no longer the Detroit Lions' quarterback, but he continues to show his appreciation for Lions fans.

Bryson Machonga—a Lions fan from Appleton, Wisconsin—made a difficult decision so that he could afford to take his 8-year-old daughter to the Lions' NFC Divisional Round playoff game against the Washington Commanders.

In a story written by Dave Boucher of the Detroit Free Press, Machonga divulged that he sold some of his favorite sports memorabilia in order to buy tickets to the game, including a Lions jersey autographed by Stafford.

According to Pro Football Talk's Michael David Smith, Stafford caught wind of the article and decided to pay it forward by sending Machonga a replacement.

The Los Angeles Rams quarterback not only sent Machonga an autographed jersey, but it was a game-used jersey from Detroit's 11-5 season in 2014.

Included with the autograph was the message: "To Bryson-Thanks for all the support."

Machonga was effusive in his praise of Stafford, telling Boucher (h/t Smith):

"I was over the moon. ... Disbelief at the start. But then it just turned into resounding joy, excitement. It just reconfirmed who Matthew Stafford is. He had no reason to go about doing this. He had no gain. He's not our quarterback anymore. ... He went out of his way in a playoff week."

Stafford, who will turn 37 next month, was the Lions' No. 1 overall pick in the 2009 NFL draft, and he went on to spend his first 12 NFL seasons in Detroit.

He is the franchise's all-time leader in passing yardage (45,109), passing touchdowns (282) and completions (3,898) by a significant margin.

After the 2020 season, the then-rebuilding Lions traded Stafford to the Rams in a move that paid dividends for both organizations.

Stafford led the Rams to a Super Bowl win in his first season with the organization, while the Lions got back quarterback Jared Goff and multiple draft picks in the trade.

Goff was an MVP finalist this season for a Lions team that went 15-2, although Detroit was upset by Washington in the playoffs.

Stafford and the Rams beat the Minnesota Vikings in the Wild Card Round before falling to the eventual NFC champion Philadelphia Eagles in the Divisional Round.

Although Stafford has moved on to another phase of his career in L.A., his good deed suggests that he still appreciates his NFL roots.

Matthew Stafford reportedly plans to play in 2025, but who he will suit up for next season is still in question.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported Wednesday that Stafford intends to play in 2025, though he noted that Stafford's contract situation could lead to the Los Angeles Rams parting ways with him.

Last offseason, Stafford and the Rams revised his contract and he'll now count for $49.6 million against the cap in 2025. Per Over The Cap, trading him after June 1 would save the Rams $27 million, while cutting him after June 1 would save Los Angeles $23 million.

Whatever the Rams decide to do, head coach Sean McVay is hoping the situation is resolved quickly.

"We don't want to have that go on again," McVay said, per ESPN's Sarah Barshop. "I don't think that's good for anybody. I think sooner than later, being able to get that clarity. Understanding clear, open and honest communication.

"I think there's a lot of love coming from our part. I think there's a lot of appreciation coming from his part as well. And I think a lot sooner than later is an ideal scenario."

Stafford, who will be 37 next month and just wrapped up his 16th NFL season, threw for 3,762 yards, 20 touchdowns and eight interceptions in 2024. His best days are likely behind him, but he still is more than capable of being a starting quarterback on a playoff-caliber team.

When asked whether he had more football left in him after the Rams lost to the Philadelphia Eagles in the divisional round, Stafford told reporters he "sure feels like it."

Cutting or trading Stafford would be an understandable move by the Rams as they look to save money, but if they let the veteran walk it will likely only be a matter of time before another team picks him up.

Sean McVay is hoping to have clarity on Matthew Stafford's future with the Los Angeles Rams far sooner than he had last offseason, when the veteran quarterback didn't sign a reworked contract with the team until the first day of training camp.

"We don't want to have that go on again," McVay told reporters. "I don't think that's good for anybody. I think sooner than later, being able to get that clarity. Understanding clear, open and honest communication. I think there's a lot of love coming from our part. I think there's a lot of appreciation coming from his part as well. And I think a lot sooner than later is an ideal scenario."

But when asked if Stafford would absolutely be with the Rams next season if he didn't choose to retire, McVay kept his cards close to the vest.

"We'll talk about all those things at the appropriate time," he said.

Stafford, 36, had a solid if unspectacular 2024 season, throwing for 3,762 yards, 20 touchdowns and eight interceptions, completing 65.8 percent of his passes while taking 28 sacks. The Rams went 10-6 in his starts (10-7) overall and reached the playoffs for the third time in Stafford's four years in Los Angeles.

And he led the Rams to an upset in the Wild Card Round over the Minnesota Vikings, throwing for 209 yards and two touchdowns, before coming up just short against the Philadelphia Eagles in a snowy Divisional Round matchup.

"I know he's playing really good football," he added. "Obviously, I love him, love working with him. What he's meant to our football team has been immeasurable in a positive way."

For the Rams, the math here is pretty simple—there probably isn't an upgrade available on the market this offseason if Stafford retires, but the team would want the chance to at least insert themselves in the Sam Darnold sweepstakes if he decides to call it quits, or go after a backup plan like Russell Wilson or Justin Fields. With $49.3 million in cap space, per Spotrac, the Rams will have financial flexibility to replace Stafford if needed.

That won't be possible if the veteran quarterback hems and haws on his retirement decision, however.

Stafford told reporters after the Eagles loss that he would "take some time to think about [my future]. But I feel like I was playing some pretty good ball."

"Sure feels like it," he added when asked if he still has good football left in the tank.

It will be an interesting offseason in Los Angeles. But a reunion between the veteran quarterback and the organization would make sense for both sides if Stafford decides to continue his career.

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford led his team to the Divisional Round despite dealing with an injury for several weeks.

Kelly Stafford, Matthew's wife, revealed on The Morning After with Kelly Stafford & Hank podcast that the Rams signal-caller suffered four cracked ribs during a 12-6 win over the San Francisco 49ers in Week 15 (starting at the 19:40 mark).

Stafford played through the injury in Sunday's season-ending 28-22 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.

The 16-year veteran has enjoyed a fantastic career that includes a Super Bowl LVI win in Feb. 2022. The two-time Pro Bowler is 10th all-time in passing yards (59,089) and passing touchdowns (377).

Stafford also threw for 4,000 or more yards seven straight times (2011-2017) when he played for the Detroit Lions. He's also thrown for 41 touchdown passes on two separate occasions (2011, 2021).

The 36-year-old is still excelling deep into his career, leading the Rams to 10 wins and an NFC West title in 2024. Stafford completed 65.8 percent of his passes for 3,762 yards, 20 touchdowns and just eight interceptions.

It's been a great comeback effort for Stafford after a spinal cord contusion prematurely ended his 2022 campaign, which lasted just nine games. He followed that up with 3,965 yards and 24 touchdowns for the playoff-clinching Rams in 2023.

Obviously, Stafford has been exceptional in L.A. after 12 years in Detroit. The Rams are a much better team with him piloting the offense.

Now that his season is over, Stafford will have time to let the injury heal as he contemplates his future.