Kelly Stafford grew to become emotional whereas discussing her husband Matthew Stafford’s potential retirement after the Rams’ season led to a heartbreaking 28-22 loss to the Eagles within the divisional spherical Sunday.
In the course of the newest installment of her “Timeout” podcast, Kelly defined that she’s going to “have a very arduous time” if the quarterback chooses to hold up his jersey for good — and he or she refuses to push him someway with the choice.
“That’s going to be solely his resolution,” Kelly, 35, mentioned. “I’m not going to stress him. I’m right here to pay attention. On the finish of the day, he texted me and he was like, ‘We’ll discuss it.’ I used to be like, ‘You speak, I’ll pay attention.’ As a lot as he needs to make it a joint resolution, he has to make it. I don’t need him to resent me and I would like it to be absolutely his personal.
“So, we’re going to take time and he’s going to determine it out. However he’s going to have to determine it out considerably quickly as a result of the Rams must know.”
Los Angeles coach Sean McVay confirmed that to be the case in a press convention Thursday.
One 12 months in the past, Stafford didn’t comply with an adjusted contract till the day earlier than coaching camp started.
“We don’t need to have that go on once more,” McVay mentioned, per ESPN.com. “I don’t assume that’s good for anyone. I feel earlier than later, having the ability to get that readability. Understanding clear, open and sincere communication. I feel there’s plenty of love coming from our half. I feel there’s plenty of appreciation coming from his half as effectively. And I feel quite a bit earlier than later is a perfect situation.”
After a dismal 1-4 begin to the season, the Rams got here out of their bye week and gained 9 of the subsequent 11 video games — and took dwelling the NFC West title.
Stafford performed by a lingering rib damage and accomplished 26-of-44 passes for 324 yards for 2 touchdowns and nil interceptions in Los Angeles’ loss in snowy Philadelphia.
He additionally had two expensive fumbles.
Kelly mentioned he performed by 4 cracked ribs.
“It was a really arduous one for him to swallow,” she mentioned of the loss. “It’s not that he was not upset, it’s simply the truth that we each now know there may be time to spend with one another and for him to spend time together with his ladies. Household means quite a bit to him.
“I do imagine there is part of him that’s prepared [to retire] and the ladies are doing issues he doesn’t need to miss out on. And he’s given his life to soccer, ultimately that is going to occur it doesn’t matter what. If it’s not this 12 months it may very well be subsequent 12 months. I feel he had an awesome season, and if he needs to exit on that, that’s a f–king proud strategy to exit.”
Kelly added, “I do imagine if it wasn’t an excellent season he’d be like, ‘F–ok this, I’m going again [to play], I’m not going out on a nasty one.’”
Stafford and Kelly are dad and mom to daughters Sawyer, 7, Chandler, 7, Hunter, 6, and Tyler, 4.
Stafford, who turns 37 subsequent month, mentioned he would take time to consider his future and that “I really feel like I used to be taking part in some fairly good soccer.”
When requested if he has soccer left in him, Stafford responded, “Positive feels prefer it.”
Stafford has two years remaining on his contract. The adjustment deal included a $40 million wage in 2024, as Stafford gave up his different 2025 ensures, NFL Community’s Tom Pelissero reported final July.
“Matthew and I are going to debate it. Whether it is over — God, I don’t need to cry — I’m going to have a very arduous time as a result of I feel he’s taking part in actually good soccer,” Kelly mentioned. “He’s good at it and I like watching him do what he likes to do and I like the truth that he’s lastly getting the respect he deserves.
“So that will suck, however with that mentioned, we wakened this morning, took the youngsters to highschool and obtained breakfast. There was no considered what we now have this week, what time does he have to enter work, if he’ll be dwelling for dinner … It was very nice.”
The Rams acquired Stafford from the Lions in trade for quarterback Jared Goff and a number of draft picks in March 2021 — and he led Los Angeles to a Tremendous Bowl title that season.