In a Detroit Free Press feature published on Sunday, February 1, columnist Carlos Monarrez argues that Stafford and his family should consider packing their bags and coming back to the Lions. He contends Stafford should be preparing to play in the Super Bowl and notes that a ring and an MVP award would cap a long career that began in Detroit 17 years ago.
From a financial standpoint, the discussion is relevant. The Rams gave Stafford a $26 million raise over two years last offseason after they explored trade options, and he still has one year left on his contract with a $40 million cap hit in 2026, ranking him among the league’s highest-paid quarterbacks that year. Monarrez suggests that a potential contract impasse could make the Lions a factor in negotiations.
Monarrez also points to Stafford’s performance this season, arguing that he could have helped Detroit reach the playoffs if he had remained with the team. He highlights Stafford’s ability to buy time with scrambles and accurate throws outside the pocket, framing the Lions as a franchise that could benefit from a bold, nostalgic move.
Stafford has publicly stated, ahead of the Rams’ December 14, 2025 meeting with Detroit, that he’s happy in Los Angeles and believes both sides benefited from the trade that sent him to the Rams. He expressed appreciation for how well the Rams and Lions have structured their programs since the deal, which complicates the notion of a sudden return to Detroit, though the piece closes by noting that “stranger things have happened.”
Ultimately, the article frames the Lions–Stafford dynamic as a speculative scenario rather than a current plan, emphasizing the logistical and financial hurdles alongside Stafford’s own contentment with the Rams. The piece originated from Heavy Sports and cites Monarrez’s Detroit Free Press column as the basis for the discussion.
