NFC Championship Loss Leaves Questions About Stafford’s Future

After the Los Angeles Rams’ close defeat against the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Championship, head coach Sean McVay found himself stopped short of discussing Matthew Stafford’s prospects for the NFL. The Rams lost 31-27, a result that denied them a chance to compete in Super Bowl LX against the New England Patriots.

During the game, Stafford, 37, completed 22 of 35 passes, throwing for 374 yards and three touchdowns. It was an impressive performance, yet it wasn’t enough to secure the victory.

In the postgame conference, McVay was pressed on whether he believed Stafford would be back for the 2026 season. His response was a bit sharp: “If he still wants to play. What kind of question is that? We were totally there. We know he’s still playing at a pretty good clip if he wants to.”

McVay went on to emphasize Stafford’s talent, stating, “I mean, he’s the MVP of the league. If he’s not, I respect other players, but this guy played at a whole different level.”

Reflecting on the larger picture, Stafford and McVay had previously celebrated a Super Bowl victory with the Rams back in 2021. The Rams had acquired him from the Detroit Lions to replace Jared Goff amid speculation that Goff might retire soon. But Stafford has proven to be anything but done—he’s continued to perform at an elite level.

In the 2025 season, he led the NFL in passing yards with 4,707 and threw 46 touchdown passes. This marked his first return to exceeding 4,000 passing yards and 40 touchdowns since that Super Bowl-winning season. Stafford also earned his third Pro Bowl selection.

As fans and the Rams organization await news on Stafford’s next move, the uncertainty looms. Will he stay on for another season? That remains to be seen.