Rams' Matthew Stafford noncommittal about NFL future

Field Level Media|published: Mon 20th January, 01:17 2025

Jan 19, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) greets Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) after their game in a 2025 NFC divisional round game at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford acknowledged Sunday that "it sure feels like" he has football left in him, but the 16-year veteran and one-time Super Bowl winner wasn't ready to commit himself to 2025.

Stafford had just thrown for 324 yards and two touchdowns in snowy Philadelphia, and had a comeback attempt fall just short in a 28-22 loss to the Eagles in a division-round playoff game. The Rams reached the Philadelphia 13-yard line in the final minute before the drive stalled.

"As far as my future goes, I mean, it's 30 minutes after our last game, so I'll take some time to think about it. I feel like I was playing some really good ball," Stafford told reporters afterward. The quarterback, who will turn 37 years old on Feb. 7, is under contract for two more seasons.

Stafford later said he enjoys competing and didn't sound ready to retire.

"I love being in those moments. Sure as hell not afraid of them. And competed my (expletive) off and it didn't go the way I wanted to today. Next time I'm out there, line it up. Let's do it again."

Coach Sean McVay, who guided the Rams to the Super Bowl title after the 2021 season, Stafford's first in Los Angeles, sounded equally disinterested in talking about the quarterback's future.

"I'm not really interested in talking about anything as it relates to next year," McVay said. "Right now, I'm just appreciative of this team."

The coach's comments certainly made it clear he has full confidence in Stafford, who played his first 12 seasons with the Detroit Lions before he was dealt to Los Angeles in March 2021 for two first-round draft picks, a third-round pick and quarterback Jared Goff.

"(Stafford) put us in a position to win that football game. That's who he is, and I'm not at all surprised. We all had the expectation with him leading the way that we were going to win that game," McVay said.

The coach added that he and the team "didn't see it going any other way than us winning that game 29-28."

In 222 career regular-season games, Stafford has completed 63.4 percent of his passes for 59,809 yards and 377 touchdowns, both good for 10th in league history.

--Field Level Media

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