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Matthew Stafford declines to answer question on future following NFC title loss vs. Seahawks

Chandler Vesselsby: Chandler Vessels01/26/26ChandlerVessels

Matthew Stafford declined to answer questions regarding the future of his career following a loss in the NFC Championship on Sunday evening, per Nate Atkins of The Athletic. The veteran quarterback just wrapped up his 17th NFL season and his fifth with the Los Angeles Rams, which fell 31-27 against the Seattle Seahawks.

Rams coach Sean McVay was also asked about whether Stafford would return for the 2026 season. However, the coach seemed surprised by the question.

“What kind of question is that?” he asked before adding that the decision would be up to Stafford.

Stafford is coming off of a season in which he led the NFL with 4,707 yards and 46 touchdowns to only eight interceptions. The touchdown number was a career high for the QB, whom many believe should take home the first MVP award of his career.

Stafford also won a Super Bowl with the Rams in the 2021 season, which was his first in Los Angeles. He previously spent 12 years with the Detroit Lions before being traded.

Matthew Stafford ranks sixth in NFL history with 64,516 yards passing and ranks second among active players behind only Aaron Rodgers. He’s certainly already cemented himself as one of the better QBs in league history given those numbers and the Super Bowl win. If he wins MVP this season, it would only further his case.

Stafford is still under contract for one more season, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see him return to finish that out given how close he got to winning another Super Bowl this year. But we’ll wait for confirmation from the QB himself once the pain on Sunday’s loss wear off.

Matthew Stafford chases down old teammate Cooper Kupp after NFC Championship Game loss

linked up in Los Angeles in 2021 to guide the Rams to the Super Bowl LVI title. They would spend the next four years together before Kupp was released after the 2024 season. The talented receiver would sign with Seattle, putting the two former buddies on a collision course for this year’s NFC Championship Game.

Kupp, who was the Super Bowl LVI MVP, will be moving on. His Seahawks defeated Stafford’s Rams 31-27 on Sunday night.

And after the game, Matthew Stafford went looking for his old buddy to wish him well. It was quite the moving scene, captured by the television broadcast cameras. Check it out below.

As for Sunday night’s game, both players turned in a dandy. Kupp got on the end of a touchdown pass and finished with four catches for 36 yards and the score.

Stafford was even more brilliant, though his Rams eventually ran out of time. The quarterback finished with 374 yards passing and three touchdowns in the contest.

On3’s Thomas Goldkamp contributed to this report.