Matthew Stafford has officially confirmed he will return for the 2026 NFL season, putting an end to speculation about his retirement.
The former Detroit Lions franchise quarterback spent 12 seasons in Detroit from 2009 to 2020 before being traded to the Los Angeles Rams, where he went on to win a Super Bowl.
Stafford made the announcement at the 2026 NFL Honors event after being named NFL MVP on Thursday, February 5. While his MVP win was a major achievement, his decision to return for another season quickly became the biggest headline of the night.
Rams’ Season Ends Short of Super Bowl
The Rams’ 2025 season ended with a heartbreaking 31–27 loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, January 25, eliminating them from Super Bowl contention. Head coach Sean McVay described the loss as “pretty numb,” noting the disappointment of falling just short of the Super Bowl stage.
Despite the early exit, Stafford reflected openly on the season and the championship matchup that followed.
Stafford Predicts Seahawks’ Super Bowl Win
Seattle went on to defeat the New England Patriots 29–13 in Super Bowl LX. Speaking on SiriusXM’s “Let’s Go” podcast, Stafford said the outcome played out exactly as he expected.
“It went about as I expected, to be honest with you,” Stafford said. “That’s kind of how I thought the game was going to go. New England’s defense kept them in it for as long as they could.”
Stafford added that Seattle moved the ball effectively throughout the game but missed scoring opportunities after crossing midfield.
“I think it could have been not as close as it was, really,” he said.
Film Study Gave Stafford an Edge
Stafford also explained that his familiarity with Seattle’s schemes allowed him to anticipate many of their plays.
“I’ve watched a ton of Seattle tape, so I knew what was coming a lot of the time,” he said. “I had watched some crossover tape with New England’s offense too, so I had a little bit of a feel for that.”
Although he wasn’t as familiar with New England’s defensive approach during the season, Stafford praised their performance in the Super Bowl.
Stafford Beats Out Top Stars for MVP
Stafford edged out several elite players for the 2026 NFL MVP award, including Drake Maye, Josh Allen, Trevor Lawrence and Christian McCaffrey.
The Most Valuable Player award is defined as an honor recognizing the individual who makes the most impactful contribution to team success. Stafford’s performance throughout the season clearly met that standard, and he capped it off by confirming he is not retiring.
Matthew Stafford Returning in 2026
With his MVP season complete and retirement off the table, Stafford is set to return as the Rams’ starting quarterback in 2026. His leadership, experience, and football IQ remain central to Los Angeles’ championship aspirations.
