After months of speculation, Matthew Stafford finally agreed to terms with the L.A. Rams that will see him represent the team in 2025. After Stafford was granted permission to speak to other teams around the league, it would seem the current opportunity to challenge for Super Bowls was enough for both parties to resolve matters.
Matthew Stafford’s Wife Celebrates With Instagram Post
The new deal, while not completely ironed out yet, is good news for the Rams organization, which has made the playoffs in three out of four seasons with Stafford.
The #Rams’ deal with Matthew Stafford will be agreed to and finalized over the next few weeks, sources says, and the salary for 2025 will be available then. It’ll happen likely after free agency. https://t.co/5EVrWfSSmD
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 28, 2025
And it appears the agreement has gone down well with the rest of the Stafford household too. Taking to Instagram, Stafford’s wife, Kelly, posted a comical photo of her husband playing for the Rams with the caption, “No place like home.”
View this post on Instagram
Stafford, the first overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, spent 12 years with the Detroit Lions before being traded to the Rams in March 2021. That trade worked out well for the Rams, who won the Super Bowl the following season.
Stafford’s four daughters were already born when the family moved west. Judging by his wife’s recent post, though, his family is happy in California, which likely helped negotiations with the Rams.
Stafford, Rams to Run It Back in 2025
The Philadelphia Eagles’ blowout win over the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl 59 has rightly overshadowed how close the Eagles came to missing out on the big game altogether.
With one minute and 25 seconds left in the Rams’ divisional round game in Philadelphia, Stafford and the Rams were set up with a first-and-10 on the Eagles’ 21-yard line. The previous play — a 37-yard completion to Puka Nacua — had the Rams dreaming of a trip to the NFC Championship Game.
Snow really picked up at the end of the game. #FlyEaglesFly vs. #RamsHouse #NFL @weatherchannel ❄️❄️❄️❄️ pic.twitter.com/lJUegJ1rqG
— Chris Warren (@TWCChrisWarren) January 20, 2025
As we know, it wasn’t meant to be, but the fact that the Rams traveled from Southern California to an ice-cold Philadelphia and pushed the eventual champions all the way in the snow bodes well.
With a young, invigorated pass rush and a supporting cast of Nacua and Kyren Williams, not to mention one of the best head coaches in football, Sean McVay, Stafford’s decision looks like an easy one.
Stafford Set to Lose a Favorite Teammate
One player who won’t be joining Stafford on the Rams in 2025 is Cooper Kupp. Despite being Stafford’s go-to receiver in their four years playing together, Kupp’s age and injury struggles in recent seasons have prompted the Rams to move on from their iconic pass-catcher.
I was informed that the team will be seeking a trade immediately and will be working with me and my family to find the right place to continue competing for championships. I don’t agree with the decision and always believed it was going to begin and end in LA.
Still, if there’s… pic.twitter.com/XWmbGVscGy
— Cooper Kupp (@CooperKupp) February 4, 2025
Since Stafford arrived in Los Angeles, Kupp has accounted for 26.65% of his completed passes (340), 28.26% of his passing yards (4,154), and 34.74% of his passing touchdowns (33).
Despite Kupp’s imminent departure, though, the Rams look set to be contenders again in 2025 and will be looking to Stafford to lead them to glory once more.