Matthew Stafford has yet to officially announce his retirement decision, but the former Detroit Lions quarterback has decided he won’t be playing until next summer at the earliest.
The Los Angeles Rams quarterback is surrounded by retirement speculation, with some reports indicating that he plans to come back for another season — but no statement yet from the veteran quarterback. While the Rams await his official decision, Stafford has chosen not to take part in one late-season exhibition.
Matthew Stafford Turns Down Pro Bowl Honor
Stafford only made the Pro Bowl once during his long tenure with the Lions, but has now earned two bids since joining the Rams in a blockbuster 2021 trade. Though Stafford was named a starter for this year’s Pro Bowl Games, USA Today’s Cameron DaSilva reported that he decided not to participate.
“Matthew Stafford was one of four Los Angeles Rams players selected to the 2026 Pro Bowl Games this year but he wonât be participating â despite being named a starter for the NFC squad,” DaSilva reported. “Heâs dropped out of the Pro Bowl and been replaced by Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts.”
After he was named an NFC starter in December, Stafford told reporters that a snub early in his NFL career led him to stop worrying about making the Pro Bowl. Stafford threw for more than 5,000 yards and 41 touchdowns for the Lions in 2021, but was passed over for the Pro Bowl roster.
At the time, Stafford seemed inclined to play in the Pro Bowl.
âWasnât even close,â Stafford told reporters in December, via the Los Angeles Times. âSo at that point, I kind of reserved myself to just go play, have fun and whatever happens, happens.
âBut it is cool to be a part of it.â
Matthew Stafford Expected to Return, Not Retire
Some NFL insiders believe Stafford has already made a decision on retirement. SI.comâs Greg Bishop noted that the Rams and Stafford put a deal in place last offseason, giving the quarterback a two-year contract with an open option to retire during this offseason.
Stafford is not expected to take that option, Bishop wrote.
âThe handshake deal remains in place,â Bishop wrote. âEach year, Stafford and the Rams will do their own assessments. Never say never, but no one in his inner circle believes Stafford will retire after this season, even if he wins another championship and could retire, like Elway, completing the rarest sendoff in pro footballâout on top.â
Some former teammates agree. Longtime Rams offensive lineman Andrew Whitworth said in an appearance on âThe Rich Eisen Showâ on January 28 that he believes Stafford still has a lot left in the tank.
âI donât know what Matthew will decide and what his priorities will be this time around. I think every year, itâs a little different, and it shifts as you get older. But Iâm excited to see what he does. Because I think the way he played this year, he should go back out there, give it one more try,â Whitworth said.
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