Matthew Stafford is 38 years old, but he’s not chasing extra years for the sake of it. He just won league MVP, and now he’s focused on winning his second ring this upcoming season.

Stafford had a career year with 4,707 passing yards and 46 touchdowns. He has been top-tier in the playoffs since he was traded from Detroit in 2021. In this year’s playoffs, Stafford threw for nearly 1,000 yards with six touchdowns, one interception, and a 94.4 passer rating.

Armed and Dangerous: The Rams’ Old Gunslinger Is Still at the Top

The gunslinger is built to lead the Rams through a crowded NFC, which now threatens the Rams’ recent success. Equipped with a canon for an arm and 17 years of professional football knowledge, Stafford knows the journey next season will be no easy task. Since winning the Super Bowl in 2021, the Rams have steadily built the roster back to championship level and now have come the closest to reaching the ultimate goal – reaching the NFC championship game this season.

This season may be the year the Rams reach the Super Bowl and win it for the third time in franchise history. Last year, the team had few weaknesses despite suffering from an undersized cornerback and poor special teams. Next year should be different with the help of the draft and a few free agent signings.

Stafford’s Abilities

Stafford announced he’s back for another year during his MVP acceptance speech at the NFL honors ceremony. The gunslinger has cemented himself as a top-five quarterback in the league after last season. Stafford is a great quarterback and one of the last few older gunslinger types in the league. His game has little mobility, which the game calls for now, but he is one of the best pre-snap quarterbacks in the league. Sean McVay’s offense is built on disguise and timing, and Stafford’s control at the line of scrimmage is a big part of that.

As Stafford hears the call – or as he’s repeating it – he “can see it,” McVay said about Stafford’s pre-snap abilities.

This season, Stafford proved that, as one of the last quarterbacks from the 2010s, he can still play at an elite level. Graded as the best quarterback in the NFL by Pro Football Focus, he led the league in passing yards and touchdowns and finished second in passer rating at 109.2.

The NFL is seeing a new era of young quarterbacks who have now entered the top stratosphere. Trevor Lawrence, Caleb Williams, Bo Nix, and Drake Maye are now the top passers in the league. In 2024, Jayden Daniels cemented himself as a top 10 quarterback after an incredible playoff run to the NFC Championship game.

Consistency and Dominance

Even at his age, Stafford has remained consistent. Although the first 11 years of his career were filled with losing seasons in Detroit, Stafford has always been the same player and continues to ascend even as he gets older.

“I would say this, it’s been fun working with him [Stafford]. You talk about a guy who challenges you because of how smart he is and the consistency with which he’s done it,” McVay said on Stafford’s consistency.

He has also been dominant in the playoffs for Los Angeles. In 10 playoff games with the Rams, he has over 3,000 passing yards with 302 per game, 21 touchdowns with four interceptions, and a passer rating of 104.4. Stafford continues to get better year after year, and even other top competitors recognize just how good he has become.

“Stafford is definitely in that top five of guys where I’m like, he’s at a different tier. It’s crazy to see how he continues to get better this far along in his career,” Maxx Crosby said.