When the Rams' 2024 season ended in heartbreak in Philadelphia, the postgame line of questioning predictably pivoted toward Matthew Stafford's future.
In the moment, Stafford declined to offer a definitive answer on the matter. He did admit he felt as if he played quality football in 2024 and when asked if he still has football left in him, his concise response said it all: "Sure feels like it."
The matter isn't that simple, of course. Stafford's current contract -- which was revised in 2024 -- is scheduled to account for $49.6 million of the Rams' cap space in 2025. Los Angeles can save $27 million by trading him elsewhere in a post-June 1 move, and $23 million as a post-June 1 cut, according to Over The Cap.
Those numbers are only important if Stafford wants to continue playing. After wading through similarly uncertain waters with Stafford during the 2024 offseason, coach Sean McVay would prefer a more direct answer from the quarterback this time around.
"We don't want to have that go on again," McVay said Thursday, via ESPN. "I don't think that's good for anybody. I think sooner than later, being able to get that clarity. Understanding clear, open and honest communication.
"I think there's a lot of love coming from our part. I think there's a lot of appreciation coming from his part as well. And I think a lot sooner than later is an ideal scenario."
Because quarterback remains the most important position in sports, the Rams likely feel as if they can't proceed with their offseason work without first knowing what Stafford plans to do. As McVay said, "the quarterback is always the first thing in mind as it relates to how you move forward with the team."
But there seems to be a bit of a standoff developing between the two parties. Stafford's response Sunday suggested he's not ready to walk away from the game, but as his former teammate Aaron Donald once did, he could leverage the retirement option in order to maximize his remaining earning power.
McVay and the Rams, meanwhile, don't seem too eager to play into such a game with Stafford. When asked if Stafford would undoubtedly play for the Rams next season if he doesn't retire, McVay sidestepped the question, replying with "we'll talk about all those things at the appropriate time."
"I know he's playing really good football," McVay said. "Obviously, I love him, love working with him. What he's meant to our football team has been immeasurable in a positive way."
Stafford is still playing quality football, overcoming an uneven season to throw the Rams to a win over the 14-3 Vikings on Wild Card Weekend and nearly pulling off an unlikely comeback in their Divisional Round loss to the Eagles. He made a courageous effort in the latter contest while playing through a rib injury, too, producing another example of the toughness that has defined much of his career.
"He's as tough as it gets," McVay said. "It's like anything else, as the season goes on, players accumulate things that they work through when you play as many games as they do."
Despite the injury -- the latest in a long list accumulated over his 16 NFL seasons -- Stafford proved to be the same gritty leader of the club he once led to a Super Bowl triumph in the 2021 season. Without an obvious replacement for Stafford on the roster, it seems wise for the Rams to find a way to retain him in 2025, provided he wants to play.
As McVay said, they'd like to have that sorted out soon. Free agency and the draft are right around the corner.
