Sean McVay was in no mood to stay polite Sunday after the Los Angeles Rams fell one game short of making the Super Bowl.
The Rams had 1st-and-10 at the Seahawks’ 12-yard line with a chance to take the lead with a touchdown. But quarterback Matthew Stafford could not find the end zone for a score and turned it over on downs, allowing the Seahawks to milk the clock for a 31-27 win at Lumen Field in Seattle, Wash.
During his postgame press conference, McVay was asked if Stafford would be back as the Rams’ quarterback next season. The 40-year-old coach did not understand why such a question had to be asked.
“Yeah, I mean, if he still wants to play,” McVay said. “What the hell kind of question is that?”
“You’ll have to ask him. We’ve been totally present. I know that if he wants to, he’s still playing at a pretty damn good clip. I mean, he’s the MVP of the league … I’ve got respect for everybody else, but this guy played at a level that’s just different.”
"If he still wants to play, what the hell kind of question is that."
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) January 26, 2026
Sean McVay on if Matthew Stafford is returning next season 👀 pic.twitter.com/XNRyA4pkdE
Stafford did not look like a QB on the verge of retirement during Sunday’s elimination game. He went 22/35 for 374 yards with 3 touchdowns.
Stafford and Sam Darnold combined to become just the second pair of opposing passers to each have at least 300 passing yards a 3 passing TDs in a conference championship game. Dan Marino and Mark Malone were the first pair to do it during the 1984 AFC Championship.
Stafford has had to fend off speculation on his potential retirement over the past few seasons. With Stafford dealing with a serious back injury before the 2025 campaign, some thought this could finally be the year he hangs it up at season’s end.
Instead, Stafford put up an MVP-worthy campaign for the Rams. There’s no question the team would welcome him back next season, so long as he doesn’t make a stunning retirement announcement in the coming months.
