Rams’ 38-Year-Old Starter Drops Retirement Hint Ahead of Season Opener vs. 49ers

· Yahoo Sports

Matthew Stafford is widely considered as one of the best quarterbacks currently playing in the league. He has been excellent for the Los Angeles Rams and has led them to win the Super Bowl LVI.

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Now, heading into 2026, the question everyone is asking is how much longer he plans to keep going, and Stafford has recently addressed his future.

Matthew Stafford talks about his retirement stance

Stafford is still playing at a high level in the league at the age of 38, even winning the 2025 NFL MVP award. He recently addressed his future at the Let’s Go! with Matthew Stafford, Drew Brees, Peter King & Jim Gray podcast. He described his year-to-year approach regarding his future and contract, and why he prefers one-year extension deals.

Jul 27, 2026; Westchester, CA, USA; Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) during training camp at Loyola Marymount University. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

He said, “I understand that there is runway out there and has been for other guys. You know, whether that ends up being the case for me or not, that’s yet to be seen. I truly, you know, make these decisions year to year. I talk about it with my girls and my wife, Kelly, my family, the people that mean the most to me and ultimately want to be up front and fair with the team and my family as well on, hey, what’s the best course of action?”

Stafford acknowledged the uncertainty around his future while making clear that his decision-making process is rooted in family and fairness. He shared that the same mindset has directly informed how he’s approached his contracts.

“And that’s why I’ve kind of signed the one-year extensions because I don’t think it’s right for them to lock me up to some major long-term deal. And then a year from now, amigo, you know what? It’s just not going to work for me and my family, and then stick the team with a bunch of dead cap and all that kind of stuff. So just trying to be as prudent as I can while still understanding that, yeah, there are times where I feel really good and feel like playing isn’t something that, you know, I want to stop doing anytime soon,” he added.

Stafford last agreed to a one-year, $55 million extension that can reach $60 million with incentives back in May 2026. This keeps him with the Rams until the end of the 2027 season. His contracts are also structured in a way to help the team to free up salary cap space. The quarterback is also very influential within the team.

Matthew Stafford convinced HC Sean McVay to stay

Head coach Sean McVay and Matthew Stafford have a special kind of bond. McVay once said that Stafford played a very important role in convincing him to stay with the Rams.

“He’s as big a reason as there is that I’m still here. He’s helped me find my way again, no question,” McVay said. “I said it about that ’23 team, when I was broken down in ’22—I feel really grateful for a lot of people. But there’s no player that’s had a bigger impact on the enjoyment, the perspective and the gratitude I have for what a blessing it is to coach and to work with so many special players.”

He added, “And especially because it’s a guy that I work so closely hand-in-hand with. I love him unconditionally, and it’s a relationship that’s only gotten stronger as we’ve done this.”

Matthew Stafford continues to be one of the best players in the league and wants to keep helping his team out.

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