One of the hottest rumors of the young 2025 NFL offseason was Matthew Stafford potentially joining Tom Brady’s Las Vegas Raiders, but it wasn’t to be.

The Rams and Stafford explored potential trade destinations, with reports tying the 37-year-old to the Raiders. Fox Sports NFL insider Jordan Schultz even reported that Brady, the new Raiders’ minority owner, and Stafford went skiing together in Montana and had a meeting at the former’s home.

After mulling over their options, Stafford and the Rams agreed to a restructured deal. The Super Bowl 56-winning signal-caller has two years remaining on a four-year extension he signed in the 2022 offseason.

So, why did Matthew Stafford choose to stay in La LA Land instead of exploring a new adventure with a revamped Raiders team that brought in future Hall of Famer Pete Carroll as his head coach?

During his appearance on Jason and Travis Kelce’s “New Heights” podcast, Stafford explained that he was always happy in Los Angeles and never wanted to leave in the first place.

When the Rams made it clear they wanted to keep him, it was a no-brainer for Matthew Stafford to stay where he was:

“That was a little nerve-wracking there for a little bit. Just trying to figure out what’s gonna go down but happy to be back wearing Rams colors, playing in Sofi, doing the thing.

I think it was kind of a joint process, right? Like, it wasn’t just…I wasn’t a free agent. I still had two years left on my deal. We kind of worked something out last year at the 11th hour to kind of figure it out right before training camp…with the understanding that, ‘Okay, we’re gonna come back and readdress this if I wanna play again the next year.’

I think in the end, I know they wanted me back, I wanted to be back. We just kinda had to figure that out and get to that point and we did. I’m sure happy that I’m gonna be here for at least another year and hopefully some after that.”

The Rams acquired Stafford in a 2021 blockbuster trade with the Detroit Lions that sent Jared Goff and multiple draft picks to Motor City. The trade has been a win-win for both teams, with Stafford leading the Rams to a Super Bowl and Goff leading a long-struggling franchise to two straight NFC North division crowns.

Matthew Stafford’s Return Keeps Rams In Super Bowl Contention

Matthew Stafford (Photo via Bill Streicher-Imagn Images)
With Stafford agreeing to return to Los Angeles, the Rams are well-equipped for another Super Bowl run.

His return ensures stability behind center. And with the Raiders signing All-Pro wideout Davante Adams to work alongside Puka Nacua, there’s a case to be made that the Rams are now the Philadelphia Eagles’ biggest challenger in the NFC.