Early Friday morning, as Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford was preparing for a meeting with head coach Sean McVay, a league source with significant interest in this offseason’s QB carousel offered a prediction and theory on the story that had dominated the start of the NFL scouting combine: Stafford and the Rams would stay together in 2025; a financial middle ground would be found; and while Stafford would never say it publicly, the compromise would showcase that sometimes elite players do learn from the mistakes of their peers.
In this case Stafford wasn’t going to fall into the same trap that has swallowed some of the precious final years of Aaron Rodgers’ career, leaving the future Hall of Famer in search of a way to bookend his NFL legacy with something other than his spectacular failure with the New York Jets.
“They played each other [late in the 2024 season] and I know the respect Matthew has for Aaron,” the source said. “I don’t think it’s lost on him what happened with Aaron and the Jets. [Heading into their late December game] Matthew was getting asked about Aaron and I’m sure there were mental notes taken — especially with Matthew knowing there would be some career decisions to make this offseason.”
“When it’s [crunch] time, I think Matthew will know his best opportunity to finish on his terms and winning terms will be [with the Rams].”
Ultimately, the source guessed correctly. Several hours later, the Rams announced they’d reached an agreement to keep Stafford in place for the 2025 season. And just like that, the other future Hall of Fame quarterback in the winter of his career has avoided the kind of legacy-capping dice roll that is currently defining Rodgers’ offseason search for redemption.
Matthew Stafford and the Rams won’t be breaking up after all, to the chagrin of would-be suitors looking for a veteran QB to lead in the 2025 NFL season. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Stafford was a big domino in QB market
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