Former Matthew Stafford has made headlines once again after confirming his return to the NFL for the 2026 season, ending speculation about his possible retirement.
Stafford, who served as the franchise quarterback for the Detroit Lions from 2009 to 2020 before winning a Super Bowl with the Los Angeles Rams, announced his decision at the 2026 NFL Honors ceremony. The veteran quarterback also took home the NFL MVP award, capping off an impressive season.
Although the Rams’ season ended with a 31–27 loss to the Seattle Seahawks on January 25, Stafford said he is motivated to return and compete for another championship. Rams head coach Sean McVay described the defeat as “numbing,” expressing disappointment that the team fell short of a Super Bowl appearance.
Stafford later reflected on Super Bowl LX, where Seattle defeated the New England Patriots 29–13. Speaking on SiriusXM’s Let’s Go podcast, Stafford said the outcome went exactly as he predicted.
“It went about as I expected,” Stafford said. “New England’s defense kept them in it for as long as they could, but Seattle moved the ball well.”
Stafford explained that his deep film study gave him insight into both teams’ strategies.
“I’ve watched a ton of Seattle tape, so I knew what was coming a lot of the time,” he added. “I also saw crossover tape with New England’s offense, which gave me a feel for how the game would unfold.”
Matthew Stafford Wins MVP Over Drake Maye and Josh Allen
Stafford beat out Drake Maye, Josh Allen, Trevor Lawrence, and Christian McCaffrey to win the 2026 NFL MVP award.
After accepting the honor, Stafford confirmed he would return for another season instead of retiring, signaling his intent to continue leading the Rams in their pursuit of another Super Bowl title.
The Most Valuable Player award recognizes the individual who makes the greatest impact on their team’s success, and Stafford’s performance throughout the season clearly met that standard.
With his MVP win and decision to play on in 2026, Stafford has positioned himself once again as one of the NFL’s most influential quarterbacks.
