Matthew Stafford was the franchise quarterback for the Detroit Lions from 2009 to 2020, and while he never took the Lions to the championship, he’s more than a footnote in Detroit sports history.
So, those who follow the Lions are also often curious about Stafford’s career and whether he’s going to retire. Now, Sean McVay, the head coach for the Los Angeles Rams, is shedding more light on Stafford’s retirement decision.
The Rams are coming off a loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, January 25, which brought a 31-27 final score and no trip to the Super Bowl. It was a heartbreaker, and McVay didn’t try to hide his disappointment when he talked to reporters after the game.
McVay described the feeling as “pretty numb” and said that “the finality of all of it when you don’t allow yourself to even think about anything other than just advancing, I felt like we were going to be the team on that podium and we weren’t.”
He added, “You give Seattle the credit, but I love this group, and I’m never really short on words, and I am right now.”
Sean McVay Opens Up About Matthew Stafford Retirement Decision
If Stafford wants to continue in the NFL for one more year, the former Detroit Lions quarterback still has a home with the Los Angeles Rams. That was the clear message McVay gave reporters on Monday, February 2, in a news conference.
“I’m keeping my fingers crossed like you guys that he still wants to go play,” McVay told reporters, according to a report from Greg Beacham of the Associated Press.
Beachcam also added the news that, “Sean McVay sounds pretty confident Matthew Stafford is coming back, but he’s letting the QB take his time.”
McVay was also asked if he would watch the Super Bowl this year. “I don’t know,” McVay said. “I might punish myself. That game the other day probably hurt more than any loss I’ve ever been a part of & it’s because of the love for the team. So, I don’t know that I’ll be tuning in for this one.”
Matthew Stafford Says He’s Still Happy With Detroit Lions Trade
Ahead of the Los Angeles Rams’ game against the Detroit Lions on December 14, 2025, Stafford said that he was still pleased with the Rams-Lions trade to take him to the West Coast.
“Obviously, I’m happy to be where I am, and I feel like the Lions obviously have capitalized on a lot of the picks and players that they were able to acquire in that trade,” Stafford said. “Their franchise is as good as it’s been, ever, in the last handful of years.”
Stafford added, “So, two successful teams, really good coaches, good football programs at the moment, and, yeah, it looks like one that both sides got what they were looking for out of it. And I think as time goes on, we’ll keep looking back on it saying the same thing because it seems to have worked out for both teams.”
One positive that Stafford got out of the deal was escaping the brutal winter that Michigan is getting this season. He also got a Super Bowl win out of it, but here’s to Jared Goff and the Lions one bringing one home at some point.
Matthew Stafford Retirement Decision Just Got Clarity