The Los Angeles Rams have a lot to address this offseason, and much of how they approach things will depend on what happens with quarterback Matthew Stafford.
Coming off an MVP-caliber regular season, Stafford is once again drawing attention heading into the offseason transaction window. Unlike last offseason, though, when trade speculation was prevalent, it is retirement that looms for Stafford and the Rams.
One of his former teammates offered invaluable insight into Stafford and his pending decision.
Matthew Stafford Gets Strong Words From Former Rams Teammate
GettyMatthew Stafford #9 of the Los Angeles Rams reacts against the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Championship Game.
Andrew Whitworth won a Super Bowl with Stafford and the Rams in 2021, retiring following that season. Stafford’s former blindside protector spoke candidly about the disappointment that he is sure the QB and the rest of the team are feeling after the NFC Championship Game.
Whitworth expects Stafford to be the 2025 MVP. He called the QB a “great steward” of the game and an “example,” lauding him and his wife, Kelly, for sharing their family lives publicly.
Despite his apparent tone, Whitworth told Rich Eisen he does not expect Stafford to retire.
“No, I don’t think that. I think that–at my age, and at his age that he’s at now, I was the same way after every year. People tried to retire me every season when I was 38, 37, 39. That’s how we got the ‘At the end of the day, we’re all going to die’ comment from me after the Super Bowl in ‘18,” Whitworth told Eisen on “The Rich Eisen Show” on January 28.
“Here’s the reality: I think for him, there’s a lot of things in his life that are really important to him. Those girls and Kelly, most importantly, their family. And I think that, right now, you’re still in that stage of the disappointment and everything you’ve put into this year.”
Whitworth noted Stafford’s back injury last offseason that sidelined him during training camp and the preseason. That was after renegotiating his contract to remain in LA.
Stafford’s play this past season will be a factor, but that is after “getting over some of this week.”
“I don’t know what Matthew will decide and what his priorities will be this time around. I think every year, it’s a little different, and it shifts as you get older. But I’m excited to see what he does. Because I think the way he played this year, he should go back out there, give it one more try,” Whitworth said.
“You know what? He’s had some pretty good success with playing in–so far–in a Super Bowl. So, if he gets that opportunity again, I think this next year could be a special one for the Rams.”
Matthew Stafford Draws X-Men Comp
GettyMatthew Stafford #9 of the Los Angeles Rams celebrates after defeating the Carolina Panthers.
Stafford drew attention with his tone following the Rams’ loss to the Seahawks in this year’s NFC Championship Game against the Seattle Seahawks, specifically in comparison to his comments following their loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in the Divisional Round in 2024.
Whitworth explained how that is often part of the process for players after a season, especially later in their careers. He said he threatened to “quit” and retire for years, only to return.
That could be the case for Stafford, whom Whitworth compared to Wolverine of the X-Men.
“They get injured a little bit. There’s a little bit of a lash out and upset about they got injured. But the truth is, they’re going to heal. And once they heal, and they get back to feeling like that superhero again, everything’s going to be fine,” Whitworth said.
“Right now, they got some wounds. It’s going to be a lot of screaming and yelling, and hollering internally. And then, they’re going to sit there on their couch two weeks from now, and they’re going to go, ‘You know what? We were freaking one play, fourth-and-4 from being in the Super Bowl and having a chance to go win it. I want to do that again.’”
While hardly official, Whitworth’s sentiments align with what fellow former Rams star Aaron Donald expressed about Stafford.
Stafford is still playing at a high level, and his return to the Rams would be tremendous news.
Rams’ Matthew Stafford Gets Strong Words Amid ‘Reality’ Check