The Los Angeles Rams’ veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford has once again made NFL history — but not in the way fans expected. The longtime gunslinger finally reached a .500 career record as a starter after the Rams’ Week 10 win over the San Francisco 49ers, a milestone that oddly carries both celebration and sorrow.
After 231 career starts, Stafford has become the quarterback with the most starts before reaching a .500 record since the NFL began tracking the stat in 1950. It’s a bittersweet achievement, prompting the headline: “Horrible Matthew Stafford News Confirmed — Too Bad.” The phrase reflects a truth that many fans already knew — that one of the league’s most talented passers spent much of his prime years mired in mediocrity with the Detroit Lions.
During his 12 seasons in Detroit, Stafford showcased elite arm strength, toughness, and leadership, yet he was often let down by a lack of talent and stability around him. Those years produced countless comeback wins but very few playoff appearances, leaving a legacy clouded by what-ifs. The move to Los Angeles in 2021 changed everything. In his first season with the Rams, Stafford led the team to victory in Super Bowl LVI — finally silencing critics who doubted his ability to win big games.
Now in 2025, Stafford is playing arguably the best football of his career. Through ten weeks, he’s thrown for over 2,400 yards, 25 touchdowns, and just two interceptions, leading the Rams on a four-game winning streak. His precision and command of Sean McVay’s offense have even pushed him into the early MVP conversation.
But the “too bad” sentiment lingers. It’s a reminder of how long it took for Stafford’s win-loss record to reflect his talent. Many believe he could have reached elite historical status sooner had he not spent so many years carrying a rebuilding Lions franchise on his back.
Still, there’s a growing sense that Stafford’s late-career resurgence might redefine his legacy. Surpassing 400 career touchdown passes and finally climbing to a .500 record, he’s proving that greatness sometimes just takes the right environment.
For Rams fans, this isn’t “horrible” news at all — it’s a powerful redemption story. But for those who remember Stafford’s Detroit years, it’s hard not to think… too bad it took this long.
