It was Los Angeles all along for Matthew Stafford .
Speaking to reporters Monday following an eventful offseason — in which the Giants and Raiders heavily pursued him before he re-upped with the Rams — the 37-year-old quarterback revealed he "never really" wanted to leave the team he's called home since 2021.
"There are so many positive things about our organization and about our team. I never really wanted to leave. I'm just happy to be back and happy that the Rams want me back. We can move forward and hopefully have a great season," Stafford said on the first day of the team's offseason program, according to ProFootballTalk.
Matthew Stafford and the Rams decided to run it back together following pursuits from other teams interested in the star QB. AP
Giants GM Joe Schoen had his eye on Matthew Stafford this offseason. Bill Kostroun/New York Post
Coming off a 10-7 regular season and a Divisional Round playoff appearance — Los Angeles fell to the eventual Super Bowl-champion Eagles in a snowy 28-22 thriller — Stafford entered an offseason with plenty of questions about the future and whether it would include another run with the Rams.
The Rams granted their Super Bowl-winning quarterback permission to speak with other clubs about his value in February. That same month, it was reported Stafford was seeking a new deal in the $50 million-per-season ballpark.
Although conversations were had with the Raiders and Giants, a resolution came in late February with the Rams and Stafford agreeing to continue their union on a revised contract.
The Giants had discussed a deal between $90 million and $100 million, The Post's Paul Schwartz confirmed at the time.
Coach Sean McVay and Matthew Stafford won a Super Bowl together with the Rams. AP
Stafford, who has made L.A. his home base with wife Kelly and their four daughters, said Monday, "Wanting to be back with the Rams was my number one priority."
"I think the longer that I'm in the game and the longer that I'm playing football, there's an understanding between myself and the organization on what we want that to look like and what we want that to be. That has been great, communication-wise, with those guys," he said.
This isn't the first time Stafford lauded Rams brass over how the situation played out.
Matthew Stafford and wife Kelly have also made Los Angeles their home base.
They have lived in Southern California with their four daughters since the QB was traded to the Rams in 2021.
Head coach Sean McVay, an integral part of bringing Stafford to the Rams in 2021 following a blockbuster trade with the Lions, had "great communication" with the team's QB1 throughout the process.
"We had grownup conversations because he and I have known each other and gone through a lot together, so, all of that was positive and good, in the end, especially, getting to the point where I know that I'm extremely excited to be back, I know (Kelly is) extremely excited to be back, we're just in a really good place and happy to be playing for the Rams for another season," Stafford said in March on Kelly's "The Morning After" podcast.
Matthew Stafford and the Rams reached the playoffs in 2024. Getty Images
"… We're just in a really good place and happy to be playing for the Rams for another season."
The Rams are looking to defend their NFC West title and will do so with a shiny new toy on offense .
Not long after the Rams firmed things up with Stafford, they signed six-time Pro Bowl receiver Davante Adams to a two-year deal.
Meanwhile, the Giants and Raiders pivoted elsewhere after being spurned by Stafford.
Las Vegas traded for Seattle quarterback Geno Smith in March, reuniting the former second-round pick with Pete Carroll, who coached him on the Seahawks.
The Giants added former Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson on a one-year deal in free agency. The team also agreed to a two-year pact with former first-overall pick Jameis Winston .
It's been widely speculated the Giants will take a rookie quarterback when the 2025 NFL Draft begins later this week.
