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Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford wouldn't give a definitive answer on his NFL future following his team's 31-27 loss to the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Championship Game Sunday (January 25) night.
"I can't generalize six months of my life 10 minutes after a loss," Stafford said via ESPN. "So I appreciate the guys in this locker room a whole hell of a lot. Everybody that helped me and helped our team be the success that we were this year. And that's all I'll answer for you."
Stafford, 37, is a finalist for the 2025 Associated Press NFL MVP award after a career year in his 17th NFL season and is under contract with the Rams through the 2026 season, however, has seriously contemplated retirement during each of the past two offseasons. Head coach Sean McVay responded "yeah, if he still wants to play," when asked if he'd have Stafford back in 2026, but said, "You'll have to ask him" when questioned about whether the veteran quarterback intended to continue his career.
"We've been totally present," McVay said. "I know that if he wants to, he's still playing at a pretty damn good clip. I mean, he's the MVP of the league and if he's not ... I got respect for everybody else, but this guy played at a level that's just different."
Stafford threw for an NFL-best 4,707 yards and 46 touchdowns, as well as eight interceptions, on 388 of 597 passing during the 2025 regular season and is reported to be the odds-on favorite for the NFL MVP award. The former Super Bowl champion finished Sunday's game with 374 yards and three touchdowns on 22 of 35 passing.