McVay can’t say if Matthew Stafford is coming back

TAMPA, FLORIDA - NOVEMBER 06: Head coach Sean McVay of the Los Angeles Rams talks with Matthew Stafford #9 during pregame warmups before the game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium on November 06, 2022 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Matthew Stafford and Sean McVay have had a successful five-year run together on the L.A. Rams, but the newly-extended head coach doesn't know if the quarterback will return to the team this year to make it six. While talking to the media on Monday and the team announcing extensions for McVay and general manager Les Snead, the head coach said that he's as in the dark about Stafford's future as everybody else.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed like you guys that he still wants to play."

Sean McVay sounds pretty confident Matthew Stafford is coming back, but he's letting the QB take his time: "I'm keeping my fingers crossed like you guys that he still wants to go play."

- Greg Beacham (@gregbeacham) February 2, 2026

Stafford is coming off of his 17th career season and second career trip to a conference championship game. He is considered the frontrunner to win MVP after passing for a career-high 46 touchdowns with a league-leading 4,707 yards.

If Stafford does not return, the Rams have a serious mystery to solve in 2026: Who is the next starting quarterback of the team?

Backup Jimmy Garoppolo is a free agent and would probably ask for a significant pay bump if the team wants him to come back as a bridge starter. Any rookie who the Rams could draft in the first round would not come with high expectations to be a starter in 2026 with a best case scenario probably being someone like Bo Nix and the help he provided Sean Payton as a 12th overall pick in 2024. The trade and released-players market could get interesting with names like Kirk Cousins, Tua Tagovailoa and Kyler Murray almost guaranteed to be available.

Obviously none of these options are anywhere close to having Matthew Stafford.

It sounds like Stafford could return and McVay simply isn't the position to speak for Stafford. But whether he does or doesn't, this mystery to solve is imminent.