Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford is among the most hotly debated players at his position. This summer’s litany of rankings put him as high as 3rd and as low as the mid-teens. While the conversation about his Hall of Fame status is premature, as the top criteria for getting into Canton is to first be retired. But Bill Barnwell of ESPN didn’t let that stop him from speculating Stafford’s future in a gold jacket.
Barnwell makes several bold predictions to lift Stafford from the mired position he currently resides. He predicts the Rams will make a second Super Bowl in 2025 on the back of Stafford’s best throwing season since 2021.
“As it stands, even with his Super Bowl win, I’m not sure Matthew Stafford has quite enough on his résumé to ensure a trip to Canton.” Barnwell writes, “Three final years with the Rams would help his case. In my simulations for this piece, I have the Rams coming up a game short of the postseason in 2024, but a retooled Rams team then makes a surprising trip to the Super Bowl in 2025, with Stafford throwing for 4,600 yards and garnering the first serious MVP consideration of his career. Even with the Rams falling short of the Chargers in Santa Clara, Stafford will have done enough to get on the right side of history.
Perhaps he struggles through an injury-hit final 2026 season and retires, but without any other quarterbacks in line as serious challengers, Stafford would walk in as a first-ballot Hall of Famer.”
Predicting Matthew Stafford’s Future and Retirement Age
Stafford is currently 11th on the list of career passing yards. He will definitely pass Eli Manning this year. If you tack on 4,600 in 2025, he will likely move into 5th or 6th position after 2025. Putting him in ahead of most quarterbacks with only one Super Bowl win.
One of the reasons Stafford’s status as a top-five quarterback is often questioned is his age. There have been a series of high-end quarterbacks falling off a cliff starting at around his age. But Barnwell predicts Stafford’s retirement coming in 2027.
