Former Lions QB Mathew Stafford Predicts to “Stop” Detroit’ Super Bowl Hopes
A former Detroit Lions quarterback, Matthew Stafford, may seek to “block” the Lions’ path to the Super Bowl, one NFL analyst speculates.
Matthew Stafford, the ex-Detroit Lions quarterback, has become a topic of trade discussions ahead of the NFL’s November 5 deadline.
If this trade talk leads anywhere, Stafford could end up with one of the Lions’ main competitors. After joining the Los Angeles Rams in 2021, Stafford secured a Super Bowl victory his first season. If he’s traded, he’d be a sought-after player.
An NFL analyst suggests Stafford might prefer a trade to a Lions’ rival to “get in the way” of Detroit’s Super Bowl ambitions.
Stafford May ‘Want Out’
On October 22, NFL expert Mike Florio from NBC Sports’ Pro Football Talk supported the idea of Stafford joining NFC North rival Minnesota Vikings.
“There’s unconfirmed talk of the Vikings and Rams discussing a trade,” Florio said. “I’ve backed the move, as Stafford would make the Vikings a true Super Bowl contender.”
A piece by Yahoo Sports senior reporter Charles Robinson on October 23 notes that, while a Stafford trade is “highly unlikely,” there could be positives.
“Stafford has ties with Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell from their brief 2009 Lions offseason stint,” Robinson wrote.
That’s where Lions revenge might come in.
“I won’t go too deep, but Stafford may want the chance to interfere with the Lions and Jared Goff’s playoff picture,” Robinson added. “I think he would.”
The Vikings could make it to the Big Game if things align. They’ve only lost to the Lions this season and are often high in the NFL Power Rankings.
Michael Rand of the Minnesota Star Tribune agrees with Stafford joining Minnesota but thinks it could be costly.
“The Vikings could make the finances work,” he stated on October 24. “However, they have a succession plan with J.J. McCarthy for 2025 and limited draft picks next year. A big trade before November 5 might require their first-round pick.”
He also asked, “Is a 36-year-old Stafford a big improvement over Sam Darnold, who’s led them to a strong start despite cooling off recently?”
Another Report Denies Stafford Trade Rumor
Before Lions fans get too concerned about Stafford potentially going to the Vikings, Vikings reporter Ben Goessling of the Star Tribune dismissed the idea on October 23.
Goessling posted on X, saying, “Checked on the Stafford-to-the-Vikings rumors. Source says there’s zero truth to any trade attempt.”
Of course, things can change, and surprises happen in the NFL. Only time will reveal if Stafford wears purple in the future.
