Rams' Matthew Stafford addresses status amid retirement rumors

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford has again done all he can to silence talk about a possible retirement before the 2023 NFL season.

"I mean, I felt really confident I was coming back," Stafford told reporters on Monday, as shared by Myles Simmons of Pro Football Talk. "I feel like more people were less confident in that than I was. But I was ready to go, ready to play, as soon as I was cleared. And I feel great, I feel healthy. I’m not 25, but I definitely feel good."

Stafford dealt with a lingering elbow issue throughout the last offseason and then was evaluated for concussions on multiple occasions in November before he was diagnosed with a spinal cord contusion that ultimately ended his 2022 campaign. 

Rumors popped up as far back as during the fall claiming the 35-year-old could ride off into the sunset at some point in the opening half of 2023, but he announced in December he wasn't retiring. 

However, the subject again arose last month when it was reported that "retirement is still not out of the question" regarding the one-time Super Bowl champion. Stafford hinted Monday he's feeling better now than he was at this time last spring. 

"I’ve been throwing with the guys a decent amount leading up to this. So, I feel good," he remarked. "Obviously, going to do everything I can to try to be as healthy as I can at all times. [I’m] not probably a human JUGS machine like I used to be. But, can still get it out there and throw it around a bunch. So, it’ll be a process like it always is to try to stay as healthy as you possibly can at all times. But I definitely feel like I can go out there and compete and do everything I want to do, which is fun and exciting for me." 

It was reported last week that the Rams were willing to give head coach Sean McVay a year off from his duties and that McVay returned in part because he wasn't "going to do that to" Stafford and other players who helped the club win Super Bowl LVI in February 2022. 

While the two seem committed to running it back with the Rams for another season, one wonders if either or both could step away from the organization and the league as soon as January 2024.