Rams' Matthew Stafford publicizes he'll play in 2026 after profitable MVP award

SAN FRANCISCO — Retirement should wait a short while longer for Matthew Stafford. After being named NFL MVP for the primary time in his 17-year NFL profession, the Los Angeles Rams quarterback introduced on the NFL Honors stage that he shall be again for the 2026 season. Earlier than this announcement on Thursday evening, Stafford’s taking part in future had been up within the air ever because the Rams’ season ended within the NFC Championship.

“I will see you guys subsequent yr,” Stafford mentioned with the MVP award in hand and 4 daughters alongside him.

“It is one thing that I have been excited about,” Stafford advised reporters after receiving the award. “Speaking with my household about even earlier than the season ended, whether or not or not they wished me to proceed to play and whether or not or not it felt like I wished to maintain taking part in. I ended the season on a wholesome word and was part of an amazing workforce. I had a bunch of teammates within the crowd, coaches within the crowd, and it simply felt like the suitable factor to do on the proper second.

“It is a household choice. I’ve my ladies with me, so it simply felt proper. Completely satisfied to be coming again.”

Stafford, 37, simply accomplished a prolific 2025 season that discovered him voted as a first-team All-Professional together with this MVP honor. His 46 passing touchdowns had been a franchise report and a profession excessive for the previous No. 1 general choose in 2009. He was additionally simply the fourth quarterback all time with no less than 45 passing touchdowns and below 10 interceptions on the yr.

“This sport takes so much out of you,” Stafford mentioned when requested why he thought-about retirement after a season the place he performed at such an elite degree. “You noticed the folks, the 4 little ladies that had been standing on stage with me, and I wish to be as massive part of their life as I presumably could be. That is actually necessary to me, and in the event that they weren’t supportive of me taking part in, I would not do it.

“I am fortunate to have little ladies that need their dad to do what he likes to do. They love cheering me on and all my teammates. It is a particular factor to have that, however it’s not one thing I am prepared to lose over a sport that I like to play there is not any query about it but when they weren’t behind me in that call, I do not care how good I performed that yr or the yr earlier than or no matter it’s, you understand, we might have some actual talks.”

Stafford can also be simply the fifteenth quarterback ever to win MVP and have a Tremendous Bowl on his résumé. Ten of these different 14 gamers are within the Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame, whereas three of those at present on the skin wanting in are merely not eligible, however will get in (Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers and Patrick Mahomes).

With that in thoughts, Stafford has positioned himself fairly properly to in the future be enshrined in Canton, Ohio, however the clock for his eligibility will not begin ticking fairly but.