"To my four beautiful daughters who I am lucky enough to be sharing the stage with … I am so happy to have you at the games, on the sideline with me, and I can't wait for you to cheer me on next year when we're out there kicking (butt)," Stafford said.
"So, I'll see you guys next year. Hopefully I'm not at this event, and we're getting ready for another game at SoFi (Stadium, where Super Bowl 61 will be held)."
Cameras cut toRamscoach Sean McVay, who applauded the remark, and Rams running backKyren Williams, who smiled and bounced as Stafford continued to speak.
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Stafford confirmed to reporters afterward that he had not informed teammates or the coaching staff about his decision prior to Thursday night's announcement.
"It's something I'd been thinking about and honestly talking with my family about, even before the season ended, whether or not they wanted me to continue to play and whether or not I felt like I wanted to keep playing," Stafford said. "I ended the season on a healthy note and was a part of a great team. I had a bunch of teammates in the crowd, some coaches in the crowd and it just felt like the right thing to do at the right moment. It's a family decision – I had my girls with me – so it just felt right."
Stafford, who turns 38 on Saturday, previously had remained noncommittal about his playing future afterLos Angeles' loss to theSeattle Seahawksin the NFC championship game.
Jon Hamm and Anna Osceola attend the 15th Annual NFL Honors at Palace Of Fine Arts.
(Michael Loccisano, Getty Images)
Kacie McIntosh
(Kirby Lee, Imagn Images)
Connie Norwood (center) with Brittney Payton and Jarrett Payton on the NFL Honors red carpet.
(Kirby Lee, Imagn Images)
Bijan Robinson
(Michael Loccisano, Getty Images)
Anthony Muñoz on the the NFL Honors Red Carpet.
(Kirby Lee, Imagn Images)
Anna Leigh Waters
(Michael Loccisano, Getty Images)
Brenda Warner and Kurt Warner
(Michael Loccisano, Getty Images)
Ashlea Klam on the the NFL Honors red carpet.
(Kirby Lee, Imagn Images)
Rich Ting
(Michael Loccisano, Getty Images)
Druski attends the 15th Annual NFL Honors.
(Michael Loccisano, Getty Images)
(L-R) Jeffrey Beacher and Jeff Ross
(Michael Loccisano, Getty Images)
Steve Cundari and Charissa Thompson
(Michael Loccisano, Getty Images)
Melissa Whitworth and Andrew Whitworth
(Michael Loccisano, Getty Images)
Diana Flores attends the 15th Annual NFL Honors.
(Michael Loccisano, Getty Images)
Bobby Wagner
(Michael Loccisano, Getty Images)
Too $hort on the the NFL Honors red carpet.
(Kirby Lee, Imagn Images)
Robert Griffin III and Grete Griffin attend the 15th Annual NFL Honors at Palace Of Fine Arts on Feb. 5, 2026 in San Francisco, Calif.
(Michael Loccisano, Getty Images)
Kay Adams on the the NFL Honors red carpet before Super Bowl LX at Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco.
(Kirby Lee, Imagn Images)
Grant Delpit and Endya Delpit.
(Michael Loccisano, Getty Images)
Xandra Pohl attends the 15th Annual NFL Honors at Palace Of Fine Arts.
(Michael Loccisano, Getty Images)
(L-R) Daiyaana Muhammad and Dion Dawkins
(Michael Loccisano, Getty Images)
Lynn Swann attends the 15th Annual NFL Honors.
(Michael Loccisano, Getty Images)
Garett Bolles attends the 15th Annual NFL Honors.
(Michael Loccisano, Getty Images)
(L-R) Seth Rollins, Jamie Erdahl and Manti Te'o attend the 15th Annual NFL Honors.
(Michael Loccisano, Getty Images)
Myles Garrett
(Michael Loccisano, Getty Images)
Tetairoa McMillan
(Kirby Lee, Imagn Images)
Derrick Henry
(Kirby Lee, Imagn Images)
Jordan Love and his wife Ronika Stone.
(Kirby Lee, Imagn Images)
Ryan Nece and Willa Ford.
(Michael Loccisano, Getty Images)
Quincy Williams attends the 15th Annual NFL Honors.
(Michael Loccisano, Getty Images)
Steve Mariucci and Gayle Wood attend the 15th Annual NFL Honors.
(Michael Loccisano, Getty Images)
Puka Nacua attends the 15th Annual NFL Honors.
(Michael Loccisano, Getty Images)
Ross Matiscik and his wife Allison Matiscik.
(Kirby Lee, Imagn Images)
C.J. Ham and Stephanie Ham.
(Michael Loccisano, Getty Images)
Austin Corbett and Madison Morell.
(Michael Loccisano, Getty Images)
Creed Humphrey and Anna Demmer.
(Kirby Lee, Imagn Images)
Alex Highsmith and Alyssa Ungrady.
(Michael Loccisano, Getty Images)
Kenny Moore II on the the NFL Honors red carpet.
(Kirby Lee, Imagn Images)
Orlando Pace and Carla Pace attend the 15th Annual NFL Honors.
(Michael Loccisano, Getty Images)
Robert Brazile attends the 15th Annual NFL Honors.
(Michael Loccisano, Getty Images)
Tyquan Thornton at NFL Honors.
(Kirby Lee, Imagn Images)
Audrey Eckert on the the NFL Honors red carpet.
(Kirby Lee, Imagn Images)
Cam Little attends the 15th Annual NFL Honors.
(Michael Loccisano, Getty Images)
Kylan Darnell attends the 15th Annual NFL Honors at Palace Of Fine Arts.
(Michael Loccisano, Getty Images)
Robert Irwin attends the 15th Annual NFL Honors at Palace Of Fine Arts on Feb. 5, 2026 in San Francisco.
(Michael Loccisano, Getty Images)
MJ Acosta-Ruiz attends the 15th Annual NFL Honors at Palace Of Fine Arts on Feb. 5, 2026 in San Francisco.
(Michael Loccisano, Getty Images)
Cameron Jordan attends the 15th Annual NFL Honors.
(Michael Loccisano, Getty Images)
Queen Noveen attends the 15th Annual NFL Honors at Palace Of Fine Arts on Feb. 5, 2026 in San Francisco.
(Michael Loccisano, Getty Images)
Breland attends the 15th Annual NFL Honors.
(Michael Loccisano, Getty Images)
Kendrick Bourne attends the 15th Annual NFL Honors at Palace Of Fine Arts.
(Michael Loccisano, Getty Images)
A general overall view of the Palace of Fine Arts, the site of the NFL Honors on Feb. 5, 2026 in San Francisco.
(Kirby Lee, Imagn Images)
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2026 NFL Honors: Best of the league's awards ceremony red carpet
Jon Hamm and Anna Osceola attend the 15th Annual NFL Honors at Palace Of Fine Arts.
(Michael Loccisano, Getty Images)
1/51
2026 NFL Honors: Best of the league's awards ceremony red carpet
Jon Hamm and Anna Osceola attend the 15th Annual NFL Honors at Palace Of Fine Arts.
(Michael Loccisano, Getty Images)
2/51
2026 NFL Honors: Best of the league's awards ceremony red carpet
Kacie McIntosh
(Kirby Lee, Imagn Images)
3/51
2026 NFL Honors: Best of the league's awards ceremony red carpet
Connie Norwood (center) with Brittney Payton and Jarrett Payton on the NFL Honors red carpet.
(Kirby Lee, Imagn Images)
4/51
2026 NFL Honors: Best of the league's awards ceremony red carpet
Bijan Robinson
(Michael Loccisano, Getty Images)
5/51
2026 NFL Honors: Best of the league's awards ceremony red carpet
Anthony Muñoz on the the NFL Honors Red Carpet.
(Kirby Lee, Imagn Images)
6/51
2026 NFL Honors: Best of the league's awards ceremony red carpet
Anna Leigh Waters
(Michael Loccisano, Getty Images)
7/51
2026 NFL Honors: Best of the league's awards ceremony red carpet
Brenda Warner and Kurt Warner
(Michael Loccisano, Getty Images)
8/51
2026 NFL Honors: Best of the league's awards ceremony red carpet
Ashlea Klam on the the NFL Honors red carpet.
(Kirby Lee, Imagn Images)
9/51
2026 NFL Honors: Best of the league's awards ceremony red carpet
Rich Ting
(Michael Loccisano, Getty Images)
10/51
2026 NFL Honors: Best of the league's awards ceremony red carpet
Druski attends the 15th Annual NFL Honors.
(Michael Loccisano, Getty Images)
11/51
2026 NFL Honors: Best of the league's awards ceremony red carpet
(L-R) Jeffrey Beacher and Jeff Ross
(Michael Loccisano, Getty Images)
12/51
2026 NFL Honors: Best of the league's awards ceremony red carpet
Steve Cundari and Charissa Thompson
(Michael Loccisano, Getty Images)
13/51
2026 NFL Honors: Best of the league's awards ceremony red carpet
Melissa Whitworth and Andrew Whitworth
(Michael Loccisano, Getty Images)
14/51
2026 NFL Honors: Best of the league's awards ceremony red carpet
Diana Flores attends the 15th Annual NFL Honors.
(Michael Loccisano, Getty Images)
15/51
2026 NFL Honors: Best of the league's awards ceremony red carpet
Bobby Wagner
(Michael Loccisano, Getty Images)
16/51
2026 NFL Honors: Best of the league's awards ceremony red carpet
Too $hort on the the NFL Honors red carpet.
(Kirby Lee, Imagn Images)
17/51
2026 NFL Honors: Best of the league's awards ceremony red carpet
Robert Griffin III and Grete Griffin attend the 15th Annual NFL Honors at Palace Of Fine Arts on Feb. 5, 2026 in San Francisco, Calif.
(Michael Loccisano, Getty Images)
18/51
2026 NFL Honors: Best of the league's awards ceremony red carpet
Kay Adams on the the NFL Honors red carpet before Super Bowl LX at Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco.
(Kirby Lee, Imagn Images)
19/51
2026 NFL Honors: Best of the league's awards ceremony red carpet
Grant Delpit and Endya Delpit.
(Michael Loccisano, Getty Images)
20/51
2026 NFL Honors: Best of the league's awards ceremony red carpet
Xandra Pohl attends the 15th Annual NFL Honors at Palace Of Fine Arts.
(Michael Loccisano, Getty Images)
21/51
2026 NFL Honors: Best of the league's awards ceremony red carpet
(L-R) Daiyaana Muhammad and Dion Dawkins
(Michael Loccisano, Getty Images)
22/51
2026 NFL Honors: Best of the league's awards ceremony red carpet
Lynn Swann attends the 15th Annual NFL Honors.
(Michael Loccisano, Getty Images)
23/51
2026 NFL Honors: Best of the league's awards ceremony red carpet
Garett Bolles attends the 15th Annual NFL Honors.
(Michael Loccisano, Getty Images)
24/51
2026 NFL Honors: Best of the league's awards ceremony red carpet
(L-R) Seth Rollins, Jamie Erdahl and Manti Te'o attend the 15th Annual NFL Honors.
(Michael Loccisano, Getty Images)
25/51
2026 NFL Honors: Best of the league's awards ceremony red carpet
Myles Garrett
(Michael Loccisano, Getty Images)
26/51
2026 NFL Honors: Best of the league's awards ceremony red carpet
Tetairoa McMillan
(Kirby Lee, Imagn Images)
27/51
2026 NFL Honors: Best of the league's awards ceremony red carpet
Derrick Henry
(Kirby Lee, Imagn Images)
28/51
2026 NFL Honors: Best of the league's awards ceremony red carpet
Jordan Love and his wife Ronika Stone.
(Kirby Lee, Imagn Images)
29/51
2026 NFL Honors: Best of the league's awards ceremony red carpet
Ryan Nece and Willa Ford.
(Michael Loccisano, Getty Images)
30/51
2026 NFL Honors: Best of the league's awards ceremony red carpet
Quincy Williams attends the 15th Annual NFL Honors.
(Michael Loccisano, Getty Images)
31/51
2026 NFL Honors: Best of the league's awards ceremony red carpet
Steve Mariucci and Gayle Wood attend the 15th Annual NFL Honors.
(Michael Loccisano, Getty Images)
32/51
2026 NFL Honors: Best of the league's awards ceremony red carpet
Puka Nacua attends the 15th Annual NFL Honors.
(Michael Loccisano, Getty Images)
33/51
2026 NFL Honors: Best of the league's awards ceremony red carpet
Ross Matiscik and his wife Allison Matiscik.
(Kirby Lee, Imagn Images)
34/51
2026 NFL Honors: Best of the league's awards ceremony red carpet
C.J. Ham and Stephanie Ham.
(Michael Loccisano, Getty Images)
35/51
2026 NFL Honors: Best of the league's awards ceremony red carpet
Austin Corbett and Madison Morell.
(Michael Loccisano, Getty Images)
36/51
2026 NFL Honors: Best of the league's awards ceremony red carpet
Creed Humphrey and Anna Demmer.
(Kirby Lee, Imagn Images)
37/51
2026 NFL Honors: Best of the league's awards ceremony red carpet
Alex Highsmith and Alyssa Ungrady.
(Michael Loccisano, Getty Images)
38/51
2026 NFL Honors: Best of the league's awards ceremony red carpet
Kenny Moore II on the the NFL Honors red carpet.
(Kirby Lee, Imagn Images)
39/51
2026 NFL Honors: Best of the league's awards ceremony red carpet
Orlando Pace and Carla Pace attend the 15th Annual NFL Honors.
(Michael Loccisano, Getty Images)
40/51
2026 NFL Honors: Best of the league's awards ceremony red carpet
Robert Brazile attends the 15th Annual NFL Honors.
(Michael Loccisano, Getty Images)
41/51
2026 NFL Honors: Best of the league's awards ceremony red carpet
Tyquan Thornton at NFL Honors.
(Kirby Lee, Imagn Images)
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2026 NFL Honors: Best of the league's awards ceremony red carpet
Audrey Eckert on the the NFL Honors red carpet.
(Kirby Lee, Imagn Images)
43/51
2026 NFL Honors: Best of the league's awards ceremony red carpet
Cam Little attends the 15th Annual NFL Honors.
(Michael Loccisano, Getty Images)
44/51
2026 NFL Honors: Best of the league's awards ceremony red carpet
Kylan Darnell attends the 15th Annual NFL Honors at Palace Of Fine Arts.
(Michael Loccisano, Getty Images)
45/51
2026 NFL Honors: Best of the league's awards ceremony red carpet
Robert Irwin attends the 15th Annual NFL Honors at Palace Of Fine Arts on Feb. 5, 2026 in San Francisco.
(Michael Loccisano, Getty Images)
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2026 NFL Honors: Best of the league's awards ceremony red carpet
MJ Acosta-Ruiz attends the 15th Annual NFL Honors at Palace Of Fine Arts on Feb. 5, 2026 in San Francisco.
(Michael Loccisano, Getty Images)
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2026 NFL Honors: Best of the league's awards ceremony red carpet
Cameron Jordan attends the 15th Annual NFL Honors.
(Michael Loccisano, Getty Images)
48/51
2026 NFL Honors: Best of the league's awards ceremony red carpet
Queen Noveen attends the 15th Annual NFL Honors at Palace Of Fine Arts on Feb. 5, 2026 in San Francisco.
(Michael Loccisano, Getty Images)
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2026 NFL Honors: Best of the league's awards ceremony red carpet
Breland attends the 15th Annual NFL Honors.
(Michael Loccisano, Getty Images)
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2026 NFL Honors: Best of the league's awards ceremony red carpet
Kendrick Bourne attends the 15th Annual NFL Honors at Palace Of Fine Arts.
(Michael Loccisano, Getty Images)
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2026 NFL Honors: Best of the league's awards ceremony red carpet
A general overall view of the Palace of Fine Arts, the site of the NFL Honors on Feb. 5, 2026 in San Francisco.
(Kirby Lee, Imagn Images)
McVay said earlier in the week he was keeping his "fingers crossed" for another year from the quarterback.
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"(M)an, is he still playing at an incredible level," McVay said. "Our hope is that he does (return), but I think with respect to his timetable and ability to be able to communicate with you guys whenever he feels ready to make that announcement, we'll let him be able to do that."
Stafford beat outNew England PatriotsquarterbackDrake Mayeby one first-place vote to take home the first NFL MVP Award of his career.
