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theramswire.usatoday.com] Matthew Stafford says he'll return in 2023 regardless of Sean McVay's decision
Cameron DaSilva
January 9, 2023 11:45 am PT
Matthew Stafford has every intention of playing next season with the Los Angeles Rams, even in the event that Sean McVay isn’t his head coach. Stafford missed eight games with a concussion and neck injury this season and there was some concern that he might retire in the offseason, but he doesn’t plan to call it a career just yet.
Stafford told reporters in the locker room on Monday that he’ll be back in 2023 regardless of whether McVay returns or leaves. Furthermore, Stafford says he feels “really good” about his health right now and plans to have a normal offseason.
Matthew Stafford confirms he’s coming back for 2023, and he anticipates a healthy offseason: “I feel really good about where I’m at.”
Sean McVay’s decision on his future won’t impact Stafford, he says. Stafford is coming back to the Rams either way. pic.twitter.com/qQXvRGMz7Q
— Greg Beacham (@gregbeacham) January 9, 2023
Stafford struggled when he was on the field this season, throwing just 10 touchdown passes and eight interceptions in nine starts. He averaged only 231.9 passing yards per game, the third-fewest of his career.
He and McVay made a great quarterback-coach tandem in 2021 as they led the Rams to a Super Bowl in their first season together, but things didn’t go nearly as swimmingly this year. Poor protection up front and injuries all over the roster made winning a challenge, but Stafford should bounce back with a much better season in 2023.
As for McVay, there are far more questions about his future than Stafford’s because of his reluctance to commit to the Rams for next season – something he’s had multiple chances to do.
