Before finalizing his return to the Rams last week, quarterback Matthew Stafford had to navigate a challenging situation. Despite leading a young, injury-plagued team to the conference semifinals, he sought a contract he felt was fair. However, at 37, the Rams were hesitant to meet his demands and even encouraged him to explore trade options.
Rumors linked Stafford to potential moves to teams like the Raiders and Giants, but deep down, he never wanted to leave Los Angeles—the franchise he helped secure a Super Bowl victory in 2022 after his trade from Detroit.
During an appearance on the New Heights podcast with Travis and Jason Kelce, Stafford reflected on the process: “It was definitely a joint effort. I remember when I was being traded from Detroit to L.A., I spent so much time on Zillow looking at houses, thinking about where my kids would go to school. In the end, I knew the Rams wanted me back, and I wanted to stay—we just had to work it out.”
Despite his age, Stafford proved he’s still among the league’s top quarterbacks, throwing for 3,762 yards, 20 touchdowns, and eight interceptions across 16 games last season. Finding a replacement for him would have been no easy task for the Rams.
His wife, Kelly Stafford, who hosts The Morning After with Kelly Stafford & Hank podcast, made her feelings on the matter crystal clear.
“Let’s go! I’m so excited. Thank goodness,” she said on the Give Them Lala podcast. “That’s what I wanted all along, and that’s what my husband wanted. He loves the Rams, and we’re just thrilled that not only are we staying, but that this whole situation is finally behind us.”
Kelly also admitted that speculation about her husband’s future had been exhausting, and she wasn’t particularly keen on relocating to New York or Las Vegas.
“The relief I felt was unbelievable,” she told Us Weekly. “Every morning, I’d wake up to a new headline—one day he’s being traded, the next day he’s staying. It was something different every single day.”
