For over a decade, Matthew Stafford was overlooked in Detroit. He never really won over the hearts of One Pride Nation. So, when the Lions traded him to the Rams, Stafford finally got the opportunity to prove his worth in the NFL. Winning the Super Bowl in his first season with the Rams showed that Stafford still had a lot to offer. And after 3 seasons, he has yet again found himself pulled into those conversations after the Rams failed to beat the Eagles on a snowy afternoon in Philadelphia.

Stafford just completed his 16th season in the NFL and his 4th in LA. Soon, the veteran signal-caller will turn 37. So, without any surprise, the reporters asked Stafford whether he still had good football left in him. Well, Stafford, for one, remained confident in his capabilities and replied, “Sure feels like it.” See, the Rams can’t just move on from their star QB after they reworked his contract in the summer.

Those reworks meant Stafford’s contract had $23.5M in guarantees in 2024. Then, in 2025, he is projected to earn $27M, of which $4M is already guaranteed. That comes under the roster bonus he is supposed to receive in March. So, the Rams really won’t be in a hurry to get rid of their QB. Because the whole point of reworking his contract was to access his long-term future in LA. And whom would the Rams really turn to without their star QB?

They don’t really have a clear backup to Stafford. The only options they have are Jimmy Garoppolo and Stetson Bennett. Besides them, the Rams also don’t have a clear path to draft a potential Stafford successor. Having a No.26 overall pick in this year’s NFL draft won’t even keep them in the hunt of drafting a star freshman QB out of college. As for Stafford, it isn’t like he didn’t perform, even if the narrative of him growing old is brewing in LA.

At one time, the Rams were 1-4, heading for an early regular-season exit. From throwing only 3 TD passes, Stafford went on to finish with 20 TDs for 3,762 passing yards. The Rams picked up the NFC West title and made light work of the Vikings while finally falling to the Phillies in the divisional round. So, with their season coming to a halt on Sunday. Will LA witness Matthew Stafford start again next season?

Sean McVay and Co continue to hail Matthew Stafford

See, when a season comes to an end, everyone’s future is accessed moving forward. And with Stafford edging toward his late thirties, he remains the first one to be questioned about his future. However, it seems like the Rams, for one, aren’t interested in discussing Stafford’s future. When Sean McVay was asked what he has to say on Stafford’s return next season, he supposedly avoided the question, “I’m not really interested in talking about anything as it relates to next year.” But when the opportunity arose for him to praise his veteran QB, McVay didn’t deflect the question, “I’m sure damn proud of Matthew Stafford.”

Now, McVay wasn’t the only one who praised Stafford after the Eagles’ loss. Puka Nacua, who only had 6 receptions against the Phillies, had nothing but warm appreciation for his QB, “Everybody in this locker room. We believe in Stafford with every inch of our being. It’s a great feeling going out there and knowing that your quarterback is willing to put it all on the line and is capable of making plays anytime it’s asked of him. We have all trust in No.9.” So, there you have it: the Rams locker room doesn’t want to lose their veteran QB.

No matter how their season ended, Stafford has the whole Rams Nation behind him. And judging by their reactions, Stafford may return to LA for his 5th season with the Rams.