Yahoo Sports Matthew Stafford feels like he has football left to play following Rams' playoff loss
Stafford is signed for two more seasons with the Rams at $49 million
Following the Los Angeles Rams' NFL divisional playoff loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, conversation quickly moved on to whether or not quarterback Matthew Stafford would return for a 17th season and fifth with the Rams.
Asked about his future with the team, Stafford said he hadn't thought much about that 30 minutes after the game. However, he made it clear that he's not thinking about retirement.
"I'll take some time to think about it, but I feel like I was playing some pretty good ball," Stafford told reporters.
Matthew Stafford could have just played his last game with the Rams. He says he still has some football in him as he talks about the team’s comeback falling short in their 28-22 loss to the Eagles pic.twitter.com/faqWuEw9oc
— Michael J. Duarte (@michaeljduarte) January 19, 2025
"Sure feels like it," he added with a smile when asked if still has football left in him.
Stafford, 36, has two years remaining on his contract, set to pay him $49 million. He and the Rams had talks about adjusting the contract before this season, but didn't get anywhere in those discussions. Stafford is due a $4 million roster bonus in March, but his $23 million salary for 2025 is not guaranteed, Pro Football Talk reports.
If the Rams bring Stafford back at that $23 million figure, he would rank eighth among NFL QBs for the 2025 season, according to Spotrac.
The veteran QB's numbers were down from last season, but support his notion that he was playing "pretty good ball." In 16 games, Stafford completed 65.8% of his passes for 3,762 yards, 20 touchdowns and eight interceptions. His yardage total ranked seventh in the NFC and among quarterbacks with at least 10 starts, his QB rating of 93.7 ranked ninth.
Against the Eagles on Sunday, Stafford threw for 324 yards and two touchdowns on 26-of-44 passing.
"Everybody in this locker room, we believe in him with every inch of our being," said Rams receiver Puka Nacua, via ESPN's Sarah Barshop. "It's a great feeling going out there and knowing that your quarterback is willing to put it all on the line and he's capable of making plays anytime it's asked of him. We have all trust in No. 9."
This season, Jimmy Garoppolo and Stetson Bennett were behind Stafford on the Rams' QB depth chart. It's difficult to imagine either of those two matching Stafford's production if the Rams preferred to move on. Free agents at the position include Sam Darnold, Russell Wilson and Justin Fields, each of whom could be signed at a lower figure. Kirk Cousins and Aaron Rodgers also could be available.
But can any of those names provide what Stafford did this season? That's a question the Rams will have to consider if they choose to go in a different direction.
