Los Angeles Rams

Kelly Stafford, who is married to Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, provided her take on the Hall of Fame debate that has emerged around her husband after L.A. defeated the Cincinnati Bengals 23-20 in Super Bowl LVI.

Kelly Stafford posted it on her Instagram story Tuesday (h/t TMZ Sports).

https://twitter.com/DetroitMoments/status/1493727531832336384

It's hard to scroll through sports news for more than a minute without falling into an opinion on Matthew Stafford's Hall of Fame candidacy, which became the most hot-button topic after the game.

To Kelly Stafford's point, though, her husband's career isn't over. The 34-year-old just had the best season of his 13-year career, completing 67.2 percent of his passes for 41 touchdowns (17 interceptions) and 8.1 yards per attempt. He clearly has a lot left in the tank, and the final chapters of his career have not been written yet.

For now, Matthew Stafford can bask in the glow of a Super Bowl victory.

The Los Angeles Rams are reportedly expected to make an attempt to re-sign veteran pass-rusher Von Miller in free agency.

Boardroom's Jordan Schultz reported Wednesday that the Rams are going to make a "concerted effort" to re-sign Miller despite knowing his market will be robust. Schultz added that the Rams are open to a one-year deal or a multiyear contract.

Miller played a big role in helping the Rams reach and win Super Bowl LVI, as they defeated the Cincinnati Bengals 23-20 on Sunday night.

L.A. acquired Miller from the Denver Broncos in a midseason trade after Miller spent his first 11 years in the league with the team that drafted him.

The new surroundings suited Miller well, as he had five sacks in eight regular-season games with the Rams and another four sacks during their four-game playoff run. That included two sacks of Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow in the Rams' Super Bowl triumph.

Prior to the 2021 season, Miller hadn't played in a playoff game since the 2015 season. Miller had five sacks during that playoff run, including 2.5 in the Broncos' win over the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl 50, which resulted in him being named Super Bowl MVP.

Miller now has nine sacks over his past two playoff runs, making him one of the greatest pass-rushers in postseason history.

The 32-year-old Miller is also among the best regular-season pass-rushers in history, as evidenced by his eight Pro Bowl nods, three first-team All-Pro selections and 115.5 sacks.

Miller is a surefire future Hall of Famer, but he proved during the playoffs that he still has plenty of gas left in the tank.

The Rams went all in on trying to win a Super Bowl last season by trading for quarterback Matthew Stafford and Miller, as well as signing wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., and that strategy worked.

The only issue is it will require the Rams to do some financial maneuvering this offseason to keep all or most of their core in place.

Miller will undoubtedly have plenty of interest on the open market, but if the Rams can prevent superstar defensive tackle Aaron Donald from retiring, it may be enough to convince Miller to run it back since he and Donald are close friends and complement each other to near perfection on the field.

Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay is reportedly expected to come back for the team's Super Bowl title defense, though it could take a new contract to finalize his return.

ESPN's Dan Graziano reported Wednesday he'd be "surprised" if McVay, who's been linked to a break from coaching and potential switch to an NFL television job, walked away, especially if he's offered a new deal "at or near the top of the head-coach salary rankings."

McVay has yet to confirm he's planning to return next season following the Rams' triumph over the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl LVI on Sunday.

"We'll see," he told Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times on Monday when asked about his future. "I'm just enjoying this moment right now. I'm really happy to be a part of this. Happy for that."

McVay has guided L.A. to a 55-26 record across five seasons. The team has never had a losing year during his tenure and reached the playoffs four times, including two Super Bowl appearances.

Last week, the 36-year-old Ohio native made it clear family commitments were starting to become a bigger aspect of his life. He told reporters:

"I love this so much that it's such a passion but I also know that what I've seen from some of my closest friends, whether it's coaches or even some of our players, I'm gonna be married this summer, I want to have a family and I think being able to find that balance but also be able to give the time necessary. I have always had a dream about being able to be a father and I can't predict the future, you know? I jokingly say that.

"I don't really know. I know I love football and I'm so invested in this thing and I'm in the moment right now. But at some point, too, if you said what do you want to be able to do? I want to be able to have a family and I want to be able to spend time with them."

In that regard, it's easy to see why a switch to broadcasting could be attractive, whether it's becoming a color commentator for games or doing a talk show on Sunday mornings. It's a job with far less of a time commitment while still pulling in a lucrative salary.

In March 2020, Andrew Marchand of the New York Post reported former NFL quarterback Tony Romo signed a 10-year, $180 million extension with CBS to continue his work as a color commentator.

Yet while it's easy to see McVay going down that route given his desire for more family time and his encyclopedic memory of the NFL, stepping away after immediately winning a title at such a young age would be a unique move.

Sticking with the Rams while they're still in their championship window—which should be the case in 2022 barring a retirement by defensive tackle Aaron Donald or an injury to another key player such as quarterback Matthew Stafford or wide receiver Cooper Kupp—seems more likely.

So, barring a snag in contract talks, McVay will probably patrol the sideline for a little longer.

As retirement rumors swirl around Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald, one thing that may reportedly help convince him to return for the team's Super Bowl title defense is a new contract.

ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported Wednesday that Donald "might need to become the league's highest-paid defensive player in order to play" next season, as his six-year, $135 million contract includes just $14.25 million in cash for 2022, which is well below his market value.

Donald was snubbed for Super Bowl MVP on Sunday night. He recorded a pair of key sacks and also put pressure on Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow on the Rams' final defensive play, which secured a fourth-down stop and the championship.

Although wide receiver Cooper Kupp also shone with a pair of touchdown catches, at minimum they should have shared the MVP honors.

Regardless, the 30-year-old defensive lineman has been the NFL's top defender for much of his career since the Rams selected him with the 13th overall pick in the 2014 draft. He's won the NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award three times, most recently in 2020.

He remained a force for L.A. in 2021, tallying 84 total tackles, 12.5 sacks, four forced fumbles and four passes defended while playing in all 17 regular season games. He added 3.5 sacks in the playoffs and earned a terrific 93.6 overall grade from Pro Football Focus.

In turn, Donald deserves the highest-paying contract among NFL defenders, though that label has a few meanings. Here are the various benchmarks he could target in negotiations, per Spotrac:

• Total value: $141 million (Chicago Bears' Khalil Mack)
• Average annual value: $28 million (Pittsburgh Steelers' T.J. Watt)
• Guaranteed money: $80 million (Watt)
• 2022 cash: $24.1 million (New Orleans Saints' Marshon Lattimore)

The University of Pittsburgh product sidestepped questions about his future during the Super Bowl postgame press conference. He told reporters:

I'm just in the moment right now. I'm enjoying this with my family. I got my kid. I promised my daughter this when she was five years old to play in the confetti. She got to do that today. I'm just in the moment right now. I'm gonna enjoy this with my teammates, with my family and I'm just gonna be in the moment and enjoy this today—a couple days, how about that? So, it's a blessing.

Teams that win the Super Bowl frequently go through some significant roster changes before their title defense, as players who shone during the playoff run cash in via free agency. It likely won't be any different for the Rams, with several impact players set to hit the open market and their financial situation seeing them $10.1 million over the salary cap entering the offseason, per Spotrac.

Donald's retirement would be the single biggest blow the L.A. roster could receive during the offseason, though. He's simply irreplaceable.

In turn, the Rams front office is going to do everything in its power to convince him to continue his career, and a lucrative new contract will probably be part of those efforts.

The last remaining head coach opening in the NFL has been filled. 

The Minnesota Vikings announced Wednesday that Rams offensive coordinator Kevin O'Connell has been hired as the 10th head coach in franchise history. 

O'Connell and the Rams are coming off a victory in Super Bowl LVI against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday. The Vikings were unable to officially announce that they were hiring O'Connell until after Los Angeles' playoff run came to an end.

A former NFL quarterback who was a career backup, O'Connell has been the Rams' offensive coordinator for the past two seasons. He also held the same position for Washington in 2019 after serving as the team's passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach.

O'Connell is the latest in Sean McVay's coaching tree to land a head coaching job, following the likes of Matt LaFleur with the Green Bay Packers and Zac Taylor with the Bengals. He's McVay's second coordinator in two years to move on, joining former Rams defensive coordinator Brandon Staley, who is now head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers.

NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reports that the Vikings plan on interviewing Rams assistant head coach/running backs coach Thomas Brown for their offensive coordinator position under O'Connell. Pelissero noted that Brown, who interviewed for the Miami Dolphins head coaching position, is considered a "rising assistant" and is a candidate to replace O'Connell in Los Angeles.

Los Angeles Rams receiver Van Jefferson was arguably the biggest winner Sunday night, as his wife, Samaria, gave birth to their second child right after his team's victory in Super Bowl LVI.

Inside the NFL captured the moment Jefferson found out Samaria was in labor. He was celebrating on the field when he was informed that he needed to get to the hospital because their son was on the way.

The moment @VanJefferson12 found out his wife was in labor ❤️

(via @NFLFilms, @InsideTheNFL) pic.twitter.com/KhkSZAJnLg

— NFL (@NFL) February 15, 2022

In a moment any parent is familiar with, it wasn't easy for Jefferson to get his toddler to understand the urgency of the situation as his daughter asked him, "But why do we have to go quick, Daddy?"

The Jeffersons' son was born less than three hours after the Rams earned the Lombardi Trophy with a thrilling 23-20 win over the Cincinnati Bengals.

Super Bowl LVI averaged 112.3 million viewers across all platforms, a 14 percent increase in viewership from last year.

NBC said an estimated 101.1 million people watched the Los Angeles Rams' 23-20 win over the Cincinnati Bengals on NBC and Telemundo, along with an additional 11.2 million people on streaming platforms.

Detroit was the No. 2 market for Super Bowl LVI viewership, behind only Cincinnati

(via NBC Sports) pic.twitter.com/p3ezRlqLp0

— Brad Galli (@BradGalli) February 15, 2022

Super Bowl LV drew 96.4 million average viewers across all platforms, which was the lowest since 2007. This year's iteration is the highest-rated show on television in five years. 

“The Super Bowl once again delivered a massive audience, which included NBC and the unmatched power of broadcast television as well as first-ever presentations on Peacock and Telemundo, and led into our most-watched Olympics coverage in four years,” NBCUniversal chairman of television and streaming Mark Lazarus said in a statement.

NFL ratings soared across the board this postseason, thanks in no small part to a seemingly never-ending string of close games. Every game in the final three rounds of the playoffs was a one-score game, with a majority coming down to game-winning scores in the waning moments.

Matthew Stafford hit Cooper Kupp from one yard out with 1:25 remaining to put the Rams ahead for good.

Legalized sports gambling can also likely take some credit for increasing the already-fervent NFL fanbase. As more states legalize gambling, more fans have been tuning into games they might not otherwise watch.

Neither the Rams nor the Bengals are considered marquee NFL franchises, but they were able to considerably outperform a Super Bowl starring Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes last year.

Even if it wasn't the only factor, the estimated $7.6 billion on the line from bettors over the weekend undoubtedly kept viewers with a vested interest glued to the screen.

The Los Angeles Rams are riding the high of Sunday's Super Bowl win, but head coach Sean McVay may have dampened the mood.

Speculation has been swirling that a victory in Super Bowl LVI would lead the 36-year-old to call it a career. McVay stopped short of dispelling those rumors Monday, responding "We'll see," when asked whether he would return to coach the Rams next season, per Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times.

Reports surfaced last week that McVay would generate a ton of interest if he were to pursue a broadcasting career. Andrew Marchand of the New York Post wrote that "if the Rams were to win the Super Bowl, McVay could walk away and likely make at least $10 million in a booth."

When asked about how long he intended to remain a head coach, McVay acknowledged he doesn't plan on being an NFL lifer and expressed a desire to start a family in the near future.

"I know I love football, and I'm so invested in this thing, and I'm in the moment right now," he said Friday, per ESPN's Nick Wagoner. "But at some point, too, if you said, 'What do you want to be able to do?' I want to be able to have a family, and I want to be able to spend time with them."

When asked Monday if he wants to retire or pursue a broadcasting career, McVay said: "I'm just enjoying this moment right now. I'm really happy to be a part of this. Happy for that."

McVay appeared to solidify his commitment to the Rams this weekend, as NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported Saturday that he asked the head coach if he would return next season.

"What he texted me back was, 'I am committed to this team and coaching,'" Rapoport said.

McVay, however, acknowledged via Hernandez that the Super Bowl victory would "definitely" make it easier for him to walk away from football—whenever he decides to do so.

Like the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last season, the Los Angeles Rams will go down in history for having particularly special circumstances attached to their Super Bowl win: They did it in their home stadium, for only the second time in NFL history (and back-to-back instances).

The Rams defeated the Cincinnati Bengals 23-20 in a game that remained close throughout on a clutch final drive that saw Matthew Stafford connect with Cooper Kupp four times for 39 yards, including the crucial one-yard touchdown that helped give Los Angeles its final 23-30 lead.

Given that the Rams secured the Lombardi Trophy in their home stadium, presumably the team's out-of-town fans who came in for the game can stick around to celebrate with the parade, which Rams COO Kevin Demoff announced will be held Wednesday.

It's sure to be a crowded scene. The Los Angeles Dodgers never got the chance to commemorate their 2020 World Series win with a parade because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Neither did the Los Angeles Lakers, who won the 2020 NBA Finals inside the NBA bubble in Orlando, Florida.

A lot of Los Angeles fans who have been looking for an opportunity to celebrate their city's recent sports success may decide the Rams' championship parade is their best opportunity.

So too might the players. The Dodgers' Justin Turner tweeted at the Rams, saying "We are locked out and available!" with the hashtag #MegaParade.

Hey @Rams, when is the parade??? We are locked out and available! #MegaParade #LA #CityofChampions

— Justin Turner (@redturn2) February 14, 2022

All the details you need whether you're planning to attend the parade in person or watch from afar are below.

     

Rams Parade 2022 Details

Date: Wednesday, Feb. 16

Time: TBA

TV: TBA

Live Stream: TBA

     

The Rams’ Super Bowl parade is on Wednesday, Kevin Demoff says.

— Greg Beacham (@gregbeacham) February 14, 2022

According to Demoff, the Rams' Super Bowl parade will begin at the Shrine Auditorium and end with a rally outside the Coliseum, the venue that hosted the team for three years as it waited for its new home stadium to be built.

No time or additional parade details have been released by the Rams or the city of Los Angeles, including COVID-19 protocols and details on whether the city's other champions will be able to get in on the celebration.

LeBron James was another of the many Los Angeles athletes who advocated for a joint parade on Twitter. "With a live concert afterwards," he added.

This is the Rams' second Super Bowl win overall. Their first, in 1999, came during the "Greatest Show on Turf" years in St. Louis.

With their 1945 NFL Championship as the Cleveland Rams, the team is the only franchise in NFL history to win championships representing three cities.

Ahead of the city's parade Wednesday, Disneyland is honoring the hometown heroes with a parade Monday that includes MVP Kupp, Stafford and Aaron Donald.

That parade will stream live Monday afternoon.

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford is finally a Super Bowl champion. However, at least one player doesn't think that means he should be elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame once he retires.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Richard Sherman questioned Stafford's Hall of Fame resume in a series of tweets on Monday, explaining that he believes the "HOF bar is incredibly low now": 

I’m gonna talk about it on the podcast but the HOF bar is incredibly low now. Like a participation trophy. No all decade team. No All pro. No MVP. 1 Pro bowl. Not even MVP of the SB. Never considered the best in any year he played. At least M. Ryan has an MVP https://t.co/TDQn8sJZfO

— Richard Sherman (@RSherman_25) February 14, 2022

Off the top of my head Tom Brady and Peyton. They also have alot of hardware in their trophy cases.

— Richard Sherman (@RSherman_25) February 14, 2022

He gets his day brother. But just throwing around HOF like that just irks me. So many had to be the most dominant to make it.

— Richard Sherman (@RSherman_25) February 14, 2022

He did nothing spectacular. Its really a macrocosm of his career. Did good. Not great. Made a few wow passes. Made a few face palm passes. Aaron Donald and Von are the two HOF he should thank.

— Richard Sherman (@RSherman_25) February 14, 2022

Lights out?! He was a dropped pick away from his team going home in the NFC Championship. Threw two picks in the superbowl. Lights out?! When?!

— Richard Sherman (@RSherman_25) February 14, 2022

There is no measuring stick that makes Stafford a hall of famer other than playing in the most passer happy decade in NFL history. Inflated numbers make ever QB that starts 10+ years a “hof”

— Richard Sherman (@RSherman_25) February 14, 2022

To Sherman's credit, he's not necessarily wrong about Stafford. The veteran quarterback has never been named an All-Pro, has never won an MVP award and has only made one Pro Bowl in his 13-year career. 

And while Stafford currently ranks 12th in NFL history with 49,995 passing yards, which is more than Hall of Famers like Joe Montana, Dan Fouts and Warren Moon, that's largely a reflection of how much the offensive game has evolved over the decades. 

Stafford is 86-95-1 in his career, and the 2021 season was his first with a winning record (12-5) since 2017. The 34-year-old arguably had the best season of his career this year, completing 67.2 percent of his passes for 4,886 yards and 41 touchdowns against 17 interceptions. 

However, that doesn't mean he should make the Hall of Fame, and, according to Pro Football Reference, Stafford has a below-average Hall of Fame monitor score at 58.44. A Hall of Fame monitor score of 100 is considered average. For example, Ben Roethlisberger (100.28), Aaron Rodgers (187.26) and even Russell Wilson (80.29) all have significantly higher scores than Stafford. 

All three of those quarterbacks have at least one Super Bowl title and nine Pro Bowl selections, for reference. 

The Stafford Hall of Fame talk began immediately after he won the Super Bowl. On Monday morning, former NFL fullback Michael Robinson and current ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky both said that the veteran quarterback is now gold jacket worthy. 

What does a Super Bowl win mean for Matthew Stafford?

"Yes he's a gold jacket, ABSOLUTELY. The ultimate team goal, to win a Lombardi, Matthew Stafford actually has, and he was a huge part of winning this Super Bowl." -- @RealMikeRob pic.twitter.com/zFkDnZhHPO

— Good Morning Football (@gmfb) February 14, 2022

ALL ABOARD THE MATTHEW STAFFORD HYPE TRAIN 🚂 @danorlovsky7

"I honestly believe it’s one of, if not the most clutch stretch of postseason performances by a QB EVER!" pic.twitter.com/a2kOZ356r5

— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) February 14, 2022

At this point, it doesn't seem like Stafford will be a Hall of Famer. However, he still has time to prove everyone wrong.