Former Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford recently became the subject of retirement speculation after the Los Angeles Rams failed to reach the Super Bowl. However, rather than stepping away from football, the veteran signal-caller appears ready to continue his career.

Stafford quickly made it clear that he intends to return to the Rams for another season. He is currently entering the final year of a contract structured to allow flexibility, giving him the option to evaluate his future each offseason and retire whenever he felt ready. Recent reports suggest the Rams and Stafford are now working toward a contract extension that would keep him with the team beyond the upcoming season.

Stafford Expected to Continue With the Rams

According to Rams Wire reporter Brock Vierra, both sides are moving toward a new agreement that will extend their partnership.

Vierra reported that the Rams and Stafford have already confirmed their relationship will continue into the 2026 season despite the earlier retirement rumors that surfaced before Stafford captured his first MVP honor. Although he is already signed through 2026, the arrangement between the quarterback and the team has long involved reviewing the contract annually, particularly when it comes to guaranteed money and other financial details.

NFL insider Ian Rapoport also indicated that negotiations have made significant progress. He added that Stafford remains on excellent terms with the organization. Under the structure of his latest contract, the Rams gave Stafford the freedom to decide this offseason whether he wanted to continue playing. That decision came quickly after the team fell just one game short of returning to the Super Bowl.

If Stafford continues playing in Los Angeles, the latter half of his career will be nearly as long as the first. He spent the first 12 seasons of his NFL journey with the Detroit Lions, reaching the playoffs three times and earning one Pro Bowl selection. Since being traded to the Rams in 2021, he has achieved some of the biggest milestones of his career, including winning the Super Bowl and securing his first MVP award.

Rams’ Quarterback Situation Could Change

While Stafford remains the starter, the Rams’ quarterback depth chart could look different soon. Veteran backup Jimmy Garoppolo is reportedly thinking about retiring, which would leave the team thinner at the position and potentially push the Rams to add another quarterback before the season begins.

At the same time, the organization could begin preparing for life after Stafford. USA Today analyst Jacob Camenker predicted the Rams might select Ty Simpson from University of Alabama with the No. 29 overall pick if he remains available.

Camenker noted that Simpson’s draft projection varies widely. Some evaluators believe he could be selected within the first five picks, while others think he might slide toward the end of the opening round. In that scenario, quarterback-needy teams such as the New York Jets, Arizona Cardinals, and Pittsburgh Steelers would all pass on him before the Rams potentially made their selection.

Meanwhile, the Lions appear comfortable with Jared Goff as their current starter. Goff — who was the other key piece in the blockbuster 2021 trade involving Stafford — has firmly held the starting job in Detroit. The team recently brought back veteran quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, who previously came out of retirement, to once again serve as Goff’s primary backup.