Matthew Stafford is doing the thing quarterbacks are usually supposed to stop doing by now: getting better.
At 37, the Los Angeles Rams star turned in what might have been the best season of his career in 2025, and it ended with his first NFL MVP award. The production was the kind that puts a quarterback in rare air. Stafford finished the year leading the league in passing yards and touchdown passes while throwing fewer than 10 interceptions, a combination only Tom Brady had previously pulled off, back in his historic 2007 season with the New England Patriots.
The accolades didn’t stop there. Stafford also became the first quarterback since Peyton Manning in 2008 to win MVP while playing for a wild-card team. Manning did it one year before the Detroit Lions took Stafford with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft.
Nearly two decades later, Stafford is still one of the most dangerous passers in football.
His work with Rams coach Sean McVay has helped turn Los Angeles into one of the league’s most explosive offenses, and Stafford’s 2025 season showed exactly why. He kept attacking tight windows, leaned on his experience, and delivered in pressure moments as the Rams pushed to the brink of another Super Bowl appearance.
The historical context makes the season even louder. According to NFL Pro Insight, Stafford became just the fifth quarterback to outright lead the NFL in passing yards and touchdowns while also directing the league’s No. 1 scoring offense. The others: Patrick Mahomes in 2022, Peyton Manning in 2013, Brady in 2007 and Kurt Warner in 2001.
That’s a pretty exclusive list for a quarterback who seems to be aging in reverse.
And the challenge for defenses only gets tougher from here. In 2026, they’ll be lining up against the reigning MVP.
With Drew Brees as another example of a quarterback who found success deep into his career, Stafford may not be done yet.
In Other News...
Rams Just Sent A Clear Message About Who Leads This Team
Leadership in Los Angeles now has a much broader cast. The Rams named a record 11 team captains for the 2026 season, and the group says plenty about where the organization wants its authority to live: with established veterans, trusted voices and the players expected to set the tone every week. Matthew Stafford, Kyren Williams, Tyler Higbee, Coleman Shelton, Davante Adams, Myles Garrett, Kobie Turner, Nate Landman, Quentin Lake, Trent McDuffie and Joe Cardona make up the list, giving the roster a mix of offensive, defensive and special teams anchors.
The most notable twist is the arrival of Garrett and McDuffie into that leadership circle after recent trades and acquisitions, a sign that the Rams are not waiting for newcomers to settle in before handing them real responsibility. For a team that has leaned heavily on veteran presence in recent years, expanding the captain group this far feels less like a formality and more like a statement about how the locker room is being organized heading into the season. [Read more 🡒]
Rams Left Themselves Dangerously Thin Where They Could Least Afford It
The Rams went into roster cuts with a little room to maneuver at wide receiver and tight end, but not nearly as much margin at cornerback. By carrying only four cornerbacks on the initial 53-man roster, they made a clear choice about where they wanted their depth to live, and it was not in the one spot where injuries and matchups can turn a secondary upside down in a hurry. Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson remain key pieces at the position, but the overall numbers leave little cushion behind them.
For a defense that has to survive a long season against varied passing attacks, the balance looks precarious. Los Angeles waived other coverage options and may have to lean on the practice squad to patch holes if the cornerback room gets tested, which is exactly the kind of scenario teams try to avoid when setting their opening roster. The concern is not just talent, but how quickly the Rams could be forced to reshuffle if the position takes even a modest hit. [Read more 🡒]
Rams Face An Unusual Roster Problem Before Their Australia Opener
Before the Rams even get to worry about the 49ers on the field, there is the unusual business of getting everyone on the plane for Australia. The season opener will be played overseas, which means passports are not a side detail but part of the roster math, and both teams have had to spend real time making sure travel documents are in order for a trip unlike anything they see during a normal NFL season.
John Lynch described the process as a logistical grind, especially when it comes to new practice squad players who may still need passports and visas sorted out. For Los Angeles, the challenge is the same one facing San Francisco: the longest road trip in league history is also one of the most complicated, and the work behind the scenes has already started well before kickoff. [Read more 🡒]