Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay had a lot to say about Matthew Stafford returning in 2026.
Following Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford winning his first MVP award, the signal caller dropped the bombshell that he will return to play in 2026.
The jury had still been out and head coach Sean McVay indicated in his end-of-season presser that he was giving Stafford the time to decide his future. With the announcement happening at NFL Honors, McVay broke his silence about the announcement.
Stafford played arguably the best season of his career, posting 4,707 yards, 46 touchdowns, eight interceptions, and a 109.2 passer rating. His passing yards and touchdowns led the league, and his touchdowns and passer rating were career highs.
Considering the health issues that Stafford has dealt with, including the concern over his back earlier in the offseason, reports of his retirement made sense. He has also played 17 years in the NFL and is 38 years old, which is considered old in football-playing terms.
Apart from the clear reasons he would have to retire, Stafford announced his return. The announcement also shocked running back Kyren Williams, wide receiver Puka Nacua, and McVay, who were all in the crowd during that time.
McVay then spoke to LA Times reporter Gary Klein, revealing his excitement for the announcement that Stafford would return.
And you know he’s loving it. He’s surrounded by a great group of guys, and we have a lot of continuity coming back. You start all over, but man, when he says he’s in, that gives you a lot of confidence and excitement about how we can move forward.
"So, really happy for him. He’s the most humble superstar I’ve ever been around, and it’s really cool. So if we can’t be playing, this is a good consolation process," McVay said.
McVay gets at least one more year out of Stafford, which is already exciting, but the Rams benefit even more from not having to reset at quarterback.
Los Angeles does have two first-round picks to use, which could have presumably been used on the successor for Stafford, but with the consensus that the 2026 quarterback class is not the best, the team can look towards 2027 instead.
Rams general manager Les Snead also indicated the plan would be to build around Stafford if he returned, which could mean the team focuses on the offensive line and potentially the wide receiver room in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Either way, Stafford is back, and McVay's excitement is something shared by the entire team, as they get another shot at going on a deep playoff run in 2026.