Is Matthew Stafford retiring after 2026 season? ESPN analyst doesn’t think so

There’s no clear answer as to whether Los Angeles Rams QB Matthew Stafford will retire at season’s end. In May, Stafford signed a one-year $55 million contract extension to play his 18th NFL season.

So there’s obviously no retirement on the immediate horizon.

ESPN analyst Dan Graziano maintains that position when assessing Stafford. Essentially, Graziano says that with the Rams making notable moves and finishing out on top, Stafford would be back in uniform next year.

“The Rams have the awesome season everyone is expecting of them after the splashy acquisition of Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett and the looming possible addition of Aaron Donald,” Graziano wrote. “Maybe they win the Super Bowl, maybe they fall just short. But either way, Stafford gets to the end of the season feeling fine and decides to play again in 2027.”

In June, the Rams acquired DE Myles Garrett in a trade with the Cleveland Browns. Plus, DT Aaron Donald could be coming out of retirement.

According to DraftKings, the Rams are heavy favorites to win the Super Bowl this year, with odds of +550.

If all goes according to plan, Stafford may very well be the LeBron James of the NFL.

Stafford is one of the most decorated QBs in recent memory. He is a three-time Pro-Bowler and won the NFL MVP Award in 2025. In 2022, the Rams beat the Cincinnati Bengals 23-20 to win Super Bowl LVI.

In his career, Stafford has thrown for 64,516 total yards, 423 touchdowns, and has a 63.5% pass completion rate at this point.

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