SAN FRANCISCO — Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford will be back for an 18th NFL season.
And he’ll do it as the reigning NFL most valuable player.
On Thursday night, Stafford was announced as the MVP during NFL Honors at the Palace of Fine Arts.
And then he made a big announcement of his own.
Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford warms up before facing the Carolina Panthers in the NFC playoffs on Jan. 10.
(Eric Thayer/Los Angeles Times)
Stafford, wearing a black tuxedo with a black shirt and black bow tie, accepted the award on stage with his four young daughters, who attended most games this season. He thanked his wife, Kelly; family; teammates; coaches; and those who helped him reach the milestone.
“I’m so happy to have you at the games on the sideline with me and I can’t wait for you to cheer me on next year when we’re kicking a—,” Stafford said to his daughters, before turning his attention to the audience.
“And so I’ll see you guys next year,” he said as a crowd that included coach Sean McVay and several teammates began to roar. “Hopefully, I’m not at this event and we’re getting ready for another game at SoFi.”
Super Bowl LXI will be played at the Rams’ home stadium, where they won Super Bowl LVI to cap the 2021 season.
After Stafford spoke with reporters on Thursday, he told The Times that he had discussed his decision with his family and knew that he wanted to come back. He said he spoke with McVay and general manager Les Snead “about how that might look and how it might go,” and then decided to let the world know.
“I figured, ‘Shoot, I don’t really do the social media thing — this will be an easier way to let everyone know how I’m feeling,’” he told The Times.
McVay told The Times he was aware of Stafford’s intent to return, but “we wanted to make it dramatic.”
Mission accomplished.
Stafford’s winning the award eased some of the pain of losing the NFC championship to the Seattle Seahawks, McVay said. And gave him confidence about the Rams’ outlook for next season.
“I’ll tell you what, man,” McVay said. “That’s the start to everything, is your quarterback position. And to be able to have a guy that’s playing as good as he’s ever played — and it’s sustainable.
“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 of 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.”
Stafford, a 17-year veteran, won the award by finishing ahead of New England quarterback Drake Maye in balloting by a panel of 50 journalists who regularly cover the NFL. The panel is assembled by the Associated Press. Los Angeles Times reporters do not participate in voting for awards.
Stafford, who turns 38 on Saturday, worked through a back issue that sidelined him for all of training camp and passed for a league-best 46 touchdowns and 4,707 yards. He led the Rams to a 12-5 record and directed an offense that led the league in scoring and yards per game.
Stafford also engineered late game-winning drives in playoff victories over the Carolina Panthers and the Chicago Bears before the Rams suffered a 31-27 defeat by the Seahawks in the NFC championship.
Stafford, the top pick in the 2009 draft, played 12 seasons for the Detroit Lions before he was traded to the Rams in 2021 for Jared Goff, two first-round draft picks and a third-round pick.
He told reporters that the years with the Lions “hardened” him and got him to a place in his career and life “where I felt like nothing was really going to knock me out. It may knock me down, but it wasn’t going to knock me out.”
In his first season with the Rams, Stafford led them to a Super Bowl title. Now he is an MVP.
“I can’t sit here and tell you that five years ago I thought, ‘Hey, I’d be a Super Bowl champ and a league MVP,’” he said. “I’m just humbled that that’s even the case. To be honest, it doesn’t even feel like my name should be in that breath. But I am proud of the guys and proud of the accomplishments we’ve been able to achieve.”
The MVP award was something of validation for a player who ranks sixth all-time in completions (5,562), yards passing (64,516) and is seventh in touchdown passes (423), but also shies from the spotlight.
Before Thursday night’s ceremony, Stafford walked the red carpet with his wife and daughters, the young girls all wearing similar dresses.
“They’re probably more excited than I am, to be honest with you,” Stafford told The Times as his family made their way to the theater for the program. “They get to get all dressed up and walk the red carpet, that’s their deal, so I’m happy to have them here.”
Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford arrives with his family at the NFL Honors awards show in San Francisco on Thursday.
(Maddie Knight / Associated Press)
A few hours later, Stafford was on stage accepting the MVP award.
McVay and his wife, Veronika, attended the ceremony. Rams receiver Puka Nacua, a finalist for offensive player of the year, and running back Kyren Williams, a finalist for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award, also attended along with safety Quentin Lake.
Now Stafford will be spending at least one more season together with them.
“Just felt right,” he said, “and happy to be coming back.”
