The Los Angeles Rams fell just short of a Super Bowl appearance this season, falling to the Seattle Seahawks in the conference championship. The loss stings more after the otherworldly performance of quarterback Matthew Stafford this season, which has him as the frontrunner for this year’s MVP.
Many are wondering if the veteran will retire after the season, and now, Stafford has officially announced how he plans to handle the looming decision on whether or not to call it a career.
He’ll be taking his time.
“It’ll be a lot that goes into it,” Stafford told Jim Gray during an appearance on a SiriusXM podcast episode of “Let’s Go!” “It’s a physical, a mental and emotional decision, a personal and a family decision as well. So, we’ll figure all that kind of stuff out with some time.
“I know I had a ton of fun playing football this season and had so much fun playing for the Rams. So when I’m ready to figure that out, I’ll be ready to figure that out. That moment isn’t right now. I have so much more time, I feel like, to reflect on just the people and the season that we just had. I want to appreciate that and give it the time that it deserves before I start thinking personally about what’s next for me and my family.”
Sean McVay’s take on the matter
Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay was asked about whether he expected Stafford back, and it’s safe to say he didn’t appreciate the question.
“I mean, if he still wants to play,” McVay answered, according to Pro Football Talk. “What the [expletive] kind of question is that?”
“You have to ask him,” McVay continued. “We’ve been totally present. I know that if he wants to, he’s still playing at a pretty damn good clip. I mean, he’s the MVP of the league, and if he’s not — you know, I mean, I got respect for everybody else, but this guy played at a level that’s just different.”
Fans reacted to Stafford’s imminent decision on social media.
“Yeah, Matthew Stafford is gone,” one fan wrote on Twitter.
“Perfectly legit question to wonder if a 38 year old qb is coming back, but idk anyone that wud know right after the game unless they had already made the decision before hand,” someone esle added.
It’ll be interesting to see what Stafford decides.