Holidays with Matthew Stafford, and you will surely see any of the influence.
Play with Stafford, as the members of the Los Angeles Rams have done the last four seasons, and it will certainly be influential.
A dying race as one of the major pocket passers in the NFL, Stafford will return to Rams 2025 on a restructured contract, but his place on the guard list was not always sure. Stafford, a perfect fit for a crime designed by Ram’s head coach Sean McVay, had to explore its market value with other teams last month.
At 37 years, Stafford remains a dangerous NFL -quarterback. And he also stands out to choose his holiday places when he is on a career path.
Just as Stafford investigated potential alternatives outside Rams, he encountered Las Vegas Raider’s minority owner Tom Brady at a Montana Ski Resort. At least one report described it as less than a chance meeting.
Whatever it was – either in a cozy cabin or random in the cafeteria line that ordered a bowl of chili with onions – Stufford could learn how much Raiders valued him. He reportedly found out the same from New York Giants.
The overtures were lucrative.
With these flirtations aside, Stafford returned to restructure his RAM’s business that goes through 2026, reportedly too much less than others had offered.
If you love someone, make them free.
“It was always the end goal in mind,” McVay told reporters this week about Stafford’s return. “But I think you want to allow him to make a decision with (wife) Kelly and his family that is best for him, which he can be excited about. I think that is the important thing is that you want everyone to feel really good with the partnership. “
If everything sounds familiar, it was the obvious holiday event that received Stafford to Rams in the first place.
In a much warmer climate on a Mexico outway four years ago, McVay in Stafford encountered the story. Since McVay had time, he led QB in Ram’s vision. Days later, Stafford was traded from Detroit Lions before the 2021 season.
Rams immediately won Super Bowl.
Behind a revival Stafford this season, even with a mix-and-match offensive line that fought through injuries, he was so close to giving Rams another chance to a title.
The team was brutal in the beginning, found their foot with beginners and backups on the line and made a run in the playoffs behind a young and talented defense. RAMS NFC Divisional Playoff game in Philadelphia reflected its season.
They dragged too much of the game and were in an impossible 28-15 holes with 4:36 left when snow stacked up on the field. Then Stafford designed a 70-yard touchdown device in less than two minutes, the defense got the ball back and Stafford went to work again.
Rams had a first down on the Eagles 21-Yard line with over a minute left and needed a touchdown for the lead. They came as close as the 13 before Stafford was plundered on the third down. A last fourth down pass on Glory was incomplete.
Had RAMS found the final zone on one of the last four players, they would have been pointed to a home game against the Washington commanders for the right to go to the Super Bowl.
Better health on the offensive line in 2025, with another year’s experience from the extremely talented defense, can give Rams another shot. They have anxiety, such as stopping driving and game planning for life without the broad recipient Cooper Kupp, which is expected to be traded.
Stafford now has two more seasons bound to Rams to make everything work, although the team may have to restructure their business again for 2026.
“I had great communication with Sean all the time,” said Stafford in a section of his wife’s podcast, The morning afterIt was released on Thursday. “Not everything was things I wanted to hear, and I think not everything he wanted to hear.
“We had adult conversations because he and I have known each other and went through a lot together, so all this was positive and good, in the end, especially to get to the point where I know I am extremely happy to be back.”
Signs point to 2025 which is possibly the last cheer for McVay and Stafford, even with an alternative for 2026 on the books. It gives coach and quarterback at least one chance to chase another title.
If they find a way to get it done, maybe Rams will feel more comfortable when Stafford enters the holiday next season.
