The Los Angeles Rams are in a bit of a holding pattern with their offseason plans. Super Bowl-winning QB Matthew Stafford has yet to decide if he’s going to return in 2026 after putting together a stellar 2025 campaign, passing for 4,707 yards and 46 touchdowns while completing 65.0 percent of his passes and throwing just eight interceptions. Stafford is an MVP finalist, and Rams fans everywhere are pulling for him to win it.
Rams WR Puka Nacua, a superstar in his own right, knows just how valuable Stafford is to Los Angeles. Nacua caught 129 passes for 1,715 and 10 touchdowns in 2025, almost all of that coming from Stafford’s arm. The Rams are firmly in a Super Bowl window and were one play away from beating Seattle in the NFC Championship Game and playing for it all on Sunday. If Stafford returns in 2026, all that’s on the table once again.
Now, in an exclusive interview with Heavy Sports, Nacua discusses Stafford’s potential retirement and looming decision.
Los Angeles Rams WR Puka Nacua on Matthew Stafford’s Future
“I haven’t gotten a chance to see [Stafford] yet,” Nacua told Heavy Sports. “I’ll probably see him out here [at the Super Bowl] this week, but I hope he enjoys his time off. There’s a lot of stuff going on, and I feel like we still just — I’m thinking about how we should still be installing plays for us right now, [getting] ready to play in a football game. But that’s not happening, I’m sure he’s probably thought about it a couple of times and has people asking him too. But I’m in no rush.”
Nacua echoes the sentiments of Rams HC Sean McVay, who said himself last week that he thought his team would be playing in the Super Bowl this week. Facing the reality that their season is over and it’s time to reload and run back it, everyone’s taking some time.
None more so than Stafford, who nearly retired last offseason and dealt with a back injury throughout training camp. With him under center, Los Angeles could easily be the best team in the NFL next year. Without him, the Rams would be in a tough spot trying to find a new quarterback half as effective as the potential future Hall of Famer.
The Los Angeles Rams Have a Decision to Make with the No. 13 Pick in the Draft
GettyINGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA – SEPTEMBER 07: Matthew Stafford #9 and Puka Nacua #12 of the Los Angeles Rams talk before a huddle during a 14-9 Rams win in the NFL 2025 game between Houston Texans and Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on September 07, 2025 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Thanks to a draft-day trade with the Falcons last year that netted them an extra first-round pick in 2026, the Rams are picking at Nos. 13 and 29 in this year’s draft. Being a hairsbreadth away from the Super Bowl and still having a top 15 pick is a rare spot to be in, one the Rams will take advantage of.
By the time the draft rolls around, the Rams will know if Stafford is retiring. But even if he returns, they could be in position to take the second quarterback off the board and let him sit behind Stafford for a season or two.
Either that, or they could add a premium talent to their defense or another big-play weapon on offense. It’s a fantastic position for the Rams to be in.
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This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
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