Tag: Stafford

49ers’ Christian McCaffrey, 4 QBs finalists for MVP award

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Reigning NFL Most Valuable Player Josh Allen, fellow quarterbacks Trevor Lawrence, Drake Maye and Matthew Stafford, and San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey are the finalists for The Associated Press 2025 MVP award.

They were announced Thursday, as were the finalists for seven other season-ending AP awards that will be handed out Feb. 5 in San Francisco at the annual NFL Honors ceremony. That night, the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year and the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2026 also will be presented, and the new Protector of the Year Award to honor the league’s best offensive lineman in 2025 will be given out.

McCaffrey also is a finalist for Offensive Player of the Year and Comeback Player of the Year, making him the first player in the running in three categories in the same season. Maye and Lawrence each are finalists for two awards.

All five MVP candidates led their teams to the postseason, with Maye and his New England Patriots and Stafford and his Los Angeles Rams to play in conference championship games on Sunday.

In the Coach of the Year category, the list includes three coaches in their debut season with their teams — two of them first-year head coaches.

The finalists:

Most Valuable Player
Josh Allen, QB, Buffalo Bills
Trevor Lawrence, QB, Jacksonville Jaguars
Drake Maye, QB, New England Patriots
Christian McCaffrey, RB, San Francisco 49ers
Matthew Stafford, QB, Los Angeles Rams

Coach of the Year
Liam Coen, Jacksonville Jaguars
Ben Johnson, Chicago Bears
Mike Macdonald, Seattle Seahawks
Kyle Shanahan, San Francisco 49ers
Mike Vrabel, New England Patriots

Assistant Coach of the Year
Vic Fangio, Philadelphia Eagles
Brian Flores, Minnesota Vikings
Vance Joseph, Denver Broncos
Klint Kubiak, Seattle Seahawks
Josh McDaniels, New England Patriots

Comeback Player of the Year
Stefon Diggs, WR, New England Patriots
Aidan Hutchinson, DE, Detroit Lions
Trevor Lawrence, QB, Jacksonville Jaguars
Christian McCaffrey, RB, San Francisco 49ers
Dak Prescott, QB, Dallas Cowboys

Defensive Player of the Year
Will Anderson Jr., DE, Houston Texans
Nik Bonitto, LB, Denver Broncos
Myles Garrett, DE, Cleveland Browns
Aidan Hutchinson, DE, Detroit Lions
Micah Parsons, DL, Green Bay Packers

Offensive Player of the Year
Drake Maye, QB, New England Patriots
Christian McCaffrey, RB, San Francisco 49ers
Puka Nacua, WR, Los Angeles Rams
Bijan Robinson, RB, Atlanta Falcons
Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Seattle Seahawks

Defensive Rookie of the Year
Abdul Carter, LB, New York Giants
Nick Emmanwori, S, Seattle Seahawks
James Pearce Jr., DE, Atlanta Falcons
Carson Schwesinger, LB, Cleveland Browns
Xavier Watts, S, Atlanta Falcons

Offensive Rookie of the Year
Jaxson Dart, QB, New York Giants
Emeka Egbuka, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TreVeyon Henderson, RB, New England Patriots
Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Carolina Panthers
Tyler Shough, QB, New Orleans Saints

–Field Level Media

Report: Rams QB Matthew Stafford to have tests on finger

Posted on | by Field Level Media

All-Pro quarterback Matthew Stafford of the Los Angeles Rams will undergo tests on his injured finger on Sunday, ESPN reported.

Following Saturday’s 34-31 wild-card playoff victory at Carolina, Stafford told reporters that a finger on his throwing hand got bent backward after hitting the arm of a Panthers defender in the first half.

The 37-year-old MVP candidate said “adrenaline” helped him stay in the game, finishing with 304 yards on 24-of-42 passing with three touchdowns and one interception.

“It wasn’t pleasant. It wasn’t great. We’ll see what it is,” said Stafford, who threw the game-winning 19-yard touchdown pass to Colby Parkinson with 38 seconds remaining.

The No. 5 seed in the NFC playoff bracket, the Rams will play either the Seattle Seahawks or Chicago Bears in next weekend’s divisional round, depending on the outcome of Sunday’s game between the NFC West rival San Francisco 49ers and host Philadelphia Eagles.

Stafford led the league in passing yards (4,707) and passing touchdowns (46) during the regular season, completing 65% percent of his attempts with eight interceptions.

–Field Level Media

Nov 2, 2025; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) stands in the pocket against the New Orleans Saints during the first half at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

Matthew Stafford fires four TDs as Rams blast Saints

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Matthew Stafford threw four touchdown passes and the Los Angeles Rams rolled past the New Orleans Saints 34-10 on Sunday in Inglewood, Calif.

Stafford, who tied his career best with five touchdown passes in a 35-7 victory over Jacksonville two weeks ago before the Rams (6-2) had their bye, completed 24 of 32 passes for 281 yards.

Tyler Shough, a rookie second-round draft choice from Louisville, made his first NFL start and completed 15 of 24 passes for 176 yards with a touchdown and an interception for the Saints (1-8), who ran just 40 offensive plays compared to the Rams’ 77.

Los Angeles led by 10 at halftime and then received the second-half kickoff and held the ball for nine minutes, 46 seconds. The Rams covered 80 yards on 16 plays, the last of which was a 4-yard touchdown pass from Stafford to Davante Adams that increased the Rams’ lead to 27-10.

Kamren Kinchens recovered Alvin Kamara’s fumble at the Los Angeles 48-yard line. The Rams cashed in 10 plays later with a 1-yard touchdown run by Kyren Williams on fourth down to increase the lead to 24 early in the fourth quarter. Williams finished with 114 rushing yards on 25 carries.

On the Rams’ first possession of the game Stafford drove them 88 yards in 12 plays, the last of which was a 1-yard touchdown pass to Tyler Higbee that produced a 7-0 lead, which held up through the end of the first quarter.

On the seventh play of the second quarter, Stafford threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to Adams to increase the lead to 13-0.

The Saints got their first points when Blake Grupe kicked a 39-yard field goal, but on the third play after the ensuing kickoff, Stafford threw his third touchdown pass, a 39-yarder to Puka Nacua that pushed the lead to 20-3.

Los Angeles missed an opportunity to extend the lead further when Joshua Karty’s 39-yard field-goal attempt was wide right. Shough drove New Orleans 71 yards in 47 seconds and his first NFL touchdown pass, an 11-yarder to Juwan Johnson with seven seconds left, to trim the deficit to 20-10.

–Field Level Media

Oct 6, 2024; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay talks to quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) during the third quarter against the Green Bay Packers at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-Imagn Images

Rams QB Matthew Stafford set for another Saturday workout

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Matthew Stafford is not ready to practice but head coach Sean McVay and the Los Angeles Rams anticipate their starting quarterback testing the health of his balky back on Saturday.

Stafford has not participated in training camp because of the back issue. He missed a targeted return-to-practice date on Monday after he tried to throw Saturday and experienced discomfort.

He received an epidural injection and earlier this week was filmed by reporters entering a hyperbaric recovery trailer parked at the team practice facility.

McVay said it’s a “little bit of both” pain tolerance and function Stafford must overcome.

“We’re trying to get our hands around this as well, so I don’t really have much more information other than think we’re trying some different things that are hopefully going to be in alignment with getting him back out on the field,” McVay said Thursday.

McVay said the goal remains having Stafford in the lineup when the Houston Texans visit Los Angeles for Week 1 of the regular season on Sept. 7. That gives the organization three weeks to find answers.

Backup Stetson Bennett IV completed 16 of 24 passes for 188 yards, two touchdowns and an interception last week in a 32-21 preseason home win over the Dallas Cowboys. Jimmy Garoppolo won’t play in the preseason, McVay stated, and is the likely choice if the Rams need an emergency spot starter for Stafford.

The Rams downplayed rumors the team would be interested in acquiring quarterback Kirk Cousins from the Falcons. Cousins and McVay have a history from their days together in Washington, and former Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris is Cousins’ current coach in Atlanta, where Michael Penix Jr. is now the starter.

Stafford, 37, was the first overall pick by the Detroit Lions in the 2009 NFL Draft.

Cousins turns 37 next week. He entered the NFL as a fourth-round pick in 2012.

–Field Level Media

Jun 3, 2025; Woodland Hills, CA, USA; Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) during organized team activities at Rams Practice Facility. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Rams have ‘no update’ on ailing QB Matthew Stafford

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Tuesday marked another day on the sidelines for Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, whose back problem continued to keep him out of duty at training camp.

Stafford, 37, was expected to participate in his first training camp practice on Monday but came out in street clothes. It was no different Tuesday, as Jimmy Garoppolo worked with the first team again and Stafford stayed out of the mix.

“No, no update on Matthew,” assistant head coach and passing game coordinator Aubrey Pleasant said, per Pro Football Talk, “but what I will tell you is it’s very tough for not only him and for the organization. I would say is that he’s trying his best.”

Pleasant went on to say that the Rams were “Matthew’s team” but that he was pleased with how the offensive coaching staff was “catering an offense” toward Garoppolo in recent days.

The developments create further uncertainty about Stafford’s readiness to play in Week 1. Garoppolo is taking the majority of first-team reps as the Rams prepare to open the regular season Sept. 7 against the visiting Houston Texans.

Stafford led the Rams to a 23-20 win over the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl LVI and is entering his 17th NFL season. A concussion and spinal cord contusion limited him to nine games in 2022, but he only sat out two games in 2023 and one last year.

–Field Level Media

Aug 9, 2025; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) walks on the field prior to the game against the Dallas Cowboys at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

Rams QB Matthew Stafford (back) still unable to practice

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford missed Monday’s practice in an unexpected development as he continues to nurse a back injury.

Los Angeles coach Sean McVay declared over the weekend that the 37-year-old signal-caller would participate in his first training camp practice on Monday.

Instead, Stafford was dressed in street clothes and reporters observed him stepping into an Airstream-type trailer known as an Ammortal chamber at the team’s training complex in Woodland Hills, Calif.

The Ammortal chamber is advertised as a “wellness device that aims to optimize human performance and promote holistic health through a combination of non-invasive technologies.”

Stafford is dealing with an aggravated disc in his back, which has limited his preparation as he heads into his 17th season.

In his absence, Stetson Bennett IV threw for 188 yards and two touchdowns in Saturday’s 31-21 preseason win against the Dallas Cowboys in Inglewood, Calif.

The Rams open the regular season on Sunday, Sept. 7, with a visit from the Houston Texans.

Stafford completed 340 of 517 passes (65.8 percent) for 3,762 yards, 20 touchdowns and eight interceptions last season while starting all 16 games in which he appeared.

A two-time Pro Bowl selection, Stafford has completed 63.4 percent of his passes for 59,809 yards, 377 TDs and 188 interceptions in 222 regular-season games (all starts) with the Detroit Lions (2009-20) and Rams. He ranks 10th all-time in touchdown passes and passing yardage — and second to Aaron Rodgers among active quarterbacks. The Lions selected him with the first overall pick of the 2009 NFL Draft out of Georgia.

Stafford led the Rams to a 23-20 win over the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl LVI.

–Field Level Media

Jan 5, 2025; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (11) throws for a reception at SoFi Stadium for the Seattle Seahawks at Los Angeles Rams Week 18 matchup. Mandatory Credit: William Navarro-Imagn Images

Reports: Rams re-sign Jimmy Garoppolo to 1-year deal

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The Los Angeles Rams re-signed quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo to a one-year, $11 million deal to be their primary backup again in 2025, ESPN and NFL Network reported Monday.

Garoppolo, 33, played the 2024 season on a one-year deal worth $3.1 million. He started the regular season finale in place of a resting Matthew Stafford, throwing for 334 yards in a meaningless 30-25 loss to Seattle.

Garoppolo was receiving interest from other teams, per ESPN.

Garoppolo is 43-21 as a starter in his career, throwing for 15,828 yards, 96 touchdowns and 52 interceptions for the New England patriots (2014-16), San Francisco 49ers (2017-22), Las Vegas Raiders (2023) and Rams.

He was selected in the second round of the 2014 draft by the Patriots and started for the 49ers in a Super Bowl LIV loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.

–Field Level Media

May 21, 2024, Thousand Oaks, California, USA; Los Angeles Rams coach Sean McVay (left) talks with quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) during organized team activities at Cal Lutheran University. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Rams respect QB Matthew Stafford’s year-to-year status

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Matthew Stafford required only three weeks to accomplish what the 37-year-old quarterback and the Los Angeles Rams needed seven months to accomplish last offseason: agreeing to a new contract.

The Rams modified Stafford’s contract for the 2025 season, added guarantees for the 2026 league year and respected his sense of urgency to shorten the offseason drama head coach Sean McVay said brought on too many sleepless nights last spring.

“Maybe it’ll (take) about two, three days next year if we have to do this,” McVay said of the second February in a row investing time into the contract status of his quarterback.

“We’ve taken it a year at a time, and he’s earned the right I believe,” McVay said. “To be able to say he can play for a few more years if that’s what he wanted. But we’ve always had great dialogue, and I really think it’s been a year-to-year thing. He’s obviously under contract for two more years with us, but as long as he wants to play, I know we’re feeling really good about that.”

Stafford and McVay agreed the “end goal” both sides had in mind was a contract for a fifth season together — 2025 — to get a firm grasp of the franchise’s bottom line as they began reshaping the team in free agency.

The next priority was a three-year deal with left tackle Alaric Jackson, who signed Friday two weeks before he could’ve bolted in free agency.

McVay said the Rams are still actively talking about their approach to the limbo around wide receiver Cooper Kupp. There is no deadline for either side, but Kupp is aware the Rams have engaged other teams about a potential trade.

“We’ll take it a day at a time,” McVay said.

–Field Level Media

Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) could have an opportunity to play in New York again next season -- for the Giants.

Reports: Giants switch QB focus to Aaron Rodgers

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Aaron Rodgers’ goal of playing in New York a few more years might still be attainable.

According to reports, the New York Giants are pursuing the 41-year-old quarterback who will no longer suit up for the Jets under new coach Aaron Glenn.

A two-year run with the Jets is coming to an end after Rodgers and Glenn met to discuss the future. The Giants are trying to end a two-year slump where offensive line injuries, poor quarterback play and assorted other issues have led to a combined 9-25 record after reaching the playoffs in 2022.

Rodgers joined the Jets amid much fanfare ahead of the 2023 season but suffered a season-ending Achilles injury in the opener. Last season, he rebounded to start all 17 games but the Jets finished only 5-12. He completed 63.0 percent of his passes for 3,897 yards with 28 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.

Giants quarterbacks combined for 15 touchdowns and 17 turnovers (13 interceptions) in 2024, when former first-round pick Daniel Jones was benched, then released in November.

The Athletic reported the Giants’ decision-makers were focused on a bid for Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford until Friday, when he agreed to a restructured contract to return to Los Angeles.

The Giants also hold the No. 3 overall pick in the 2025 draft.

A four-time MVP and 10-time Pro Bowl selection, Rodgers is the active NFL leader with 62,952 passing yards and 503 touchdown passes in 20 seasons with the Green Bay Packers (2005-22) and Jets.

–Field Level Media

Oct 6, 2024; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay talks to quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) during the third quarter against the Green Bay Packers at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-Imagn Images

Rams prefer Matthew Stafford at QB1, work through complex appraisal

Posted on | by Field Level Media

INDIANAPOLIS — Only Aaron Rodgers has more career earnings as an NFL quarterback than current Los Angeles Rams starter Matthew Stafford, but it’s possible finances send the latter to a new destination for 2025.

Rams head coach Sean McVay, who courted Stafford before Los Angeles traded Jared Goff and multiple draft picks in a swap of starting quarterbacks before the 2022 season, clarified Tuesday that the preference from the team’s perspective is to stick with Stafford. But the Rams are in limbo as Stafford’s representatives contact other teams to assess his market value, which required the Rams’ signoff.

In an interview with ex-NFL quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick and Andrew Whitworth, who played for the Rams and McVay before retiring, on the “Fitz & Whit” podcast, McVay attempted to clarify that Los Angeles would love to keep Stafford, 37.

“There’s no discrepancy on us wanting him to continue to lead the way and be our quarterback. The interesting and the challenging dilemma and dynamics within this are, ‘Hey, how do you continuously as a head coach look at the short term and the long term and be able to figure out what does that really look like?’” McVay said on the podcast.

Stafford has two years remaining on his current contract with a salary of $27 million in 2025 and only $4 million guaranteed. By base salary — $23 million — Stafford is No. 8 in the NFL using current salary information. His cap number is fifth-highest in the league at $49.67 million for next season.

The Rams view of the salary and contract came due to a difference of opinion with Stafford’s camp. McVay said the Rams had “something in mind, (agent Jimmy Sexton and Stafford) had something and mind and nobody was right or wrong,” so they hatched the plan to transparently gauge value.

Even with the public appraisal pending, there stands a chance the Rams will decide to look at another quarterback.

“There is no dispute — and let’s not get it twisted in regarding to anybody wanting him to be our quarterback. Now, there’s layers to it,” McVay said. “You have to be able to say, ‘Hey, how do we continuously build? How do we support him? How do we make sure that he’s getting what is his worth relative to those things?’”

Stafford is among the league’s statistical greats, ranked 10th all-time in career passing yards (59,809) and touchdown passes (377), and ninth in both pass completions and attempts. He’s 5-2 with the Rams in the playoffs, including a victory in Super Bowl LVI in 2022, after going 0-3 over his 12 seasons in Detroit.

–Field Level Media