Matthew Stafford will officially return to the Los Angeles Rams in 2026 and commits to playing his 18th NFL season at the age of 38. He announced the news on stage after winning his first league MVP award and shared his excitement about having his four daughters cheering him on again next year.
“I’m so excited to have you guys watching from the sidelines with me, and I can’t wait to have you cheering me on when we’re on the field next year,” he told his daughters on stage. “So we’ll see you next year. Hopefully I won’t be at this event and we’re getting ready for another one at SoFi.”
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The Rams are headed to the Super Bowl, which will be Stafford’s second in five years with Los Angeles. He hopes to be back there next year, especially with the tournament taking place again at SoFi Stadium – the site of his first championship in 2021.
In an interview with TheRams.com’s Stu Jackson, Stafford explained his decision to return for the season and why he wanted to announce the exciting news at the NFL Honors.
“Even before the season ended, something I was thinking about and talking honestly to my family about, was whether they wanted me to keep playing, whether or not I felt like I wanted to keep playing,” Stafford said. “I finished the season healthy and being a part of a great team. I had a great group of teammates in the crowd, some coaches in the crowd, and I felt like I did the right thing at the right moment. It was a family decision. I had my girls around me, so it felt good. It’s good to be back.”
Stafford said he would not have decided to continue playing without the support of his family.
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“You see the people that I’m on stage with, four little girls, and I want to be a part of their lives as much as possible, and that’s very important to me, and if they don’t support me playing, I’m not going to do it,” he said. “I’m lucky enough to have little girls who want their dad to do what he loves to do. They love cheering for me and all my teammates. It’s a special thing to have, but I’d hate to lose that for a game I love to play. There’s no question about it. But if they don’t support my decision, I don’t care how good I played that year, the year before, whatever it was, we’re going to have some real conversations.”
Stafford, 37, threw for an NFL-high 46 touchdown passes and 4,707 yards in his 17th NFL season. He was the best quarterback all season, and if not for special teams miscues, a poor Rams defense and a failed red zone trip against the Seahawks, he might have been competing for a ring with Drake Maye, who finished second in MVP voting.
Of course, Stafford’s incredible performance influenced his decision to return, as did his ability to stay upright and healthy throughout the season. The Rams have allowed just 23 sacks this year, the fewest of any team.
Returning in 2026 has always been an option, but with no significant decline in his production, it must make the decision to return easier.
This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: Rams’ Matthew Stafford explains why he’ll be back in 2026