Rich Eisen and Kay Adams ask the unthinkable about Matthew Stafford's future

After the Los Angeles Rams lost to the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Championship game, the focus instantly pivoted from present to future. While that future seems to be pretty solid, even the most optimistic fans agree that it all depends on veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford.

The problem? After a hard-fought, he didn't address a question about his return to play in 2026. And that lack of hard confirmation sparked a feverish rally by some of the NFL's most respected experts to pose the question that fans want nothing to do with. Will Matthew Stafford be back next season?

Rich Eisen posed the question, and it's worth a look. Could Stafford just walk away? Before we address that matter, let's pull up another perspective. NFL personality Kay Adams has interviewed many NFL players, and she weighs in by outright stating that nobody knows what the girl-dad quarterback may do. You can check that out here.

The bottom line is, nobody knows that Stafford will decide.

Matthew Stafford may choose to walk away at the top of his game

LA Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford absolutely put up MVP-worthy numbers this season. So why would he choose to stop now? Well, you can pose that same question to legendary defensive tackle Aaron Donald, who retired at the top of his game.

Elite left tackle Andrew Whitworth retired after winning Super Bowl LVI and the prestigious NFL's Walter Payton Award. He left on top, too.

The NFL is not just a job. It's a passion. Yes, professional football players are paid well. But the risk of injury eventually takes a toll on the players. And the former Georgia Bulldog hurler has just completed 17 years of professional football competition. At some point, he will choose his family over his athleticism.

Is now that moment?

You cannot blame Stafford. He did everything he could to advance to the Super Bowl. But professional football is a team sport, and the team could not overcome struggles on defense and on special teams.

Oh so close.

Still, 2026 brings an entirely new team. Expired contracts translate into saying farewell to players. The NFL draft and free agency mean welcoming new arrivals. In the end, the 2026 LA Rams roster will have new faces, new strategies, and new DNA.

Will the 37-year-old quarterback be back for another season? Fans hope yes. But even if he does return, everything will be different. And that means that fans will need to be comfortable being uncomfortable for a little while longer.

It also means general manager Les Snead must form an effective quarterback succession plan. Time's up.

As always, thanks for reading.