Is Matthew Stafford Underrated in the NFL?

As he edges towards retirement, Matthew Stafford can look back on his NFL career with great satisfaction. The quarterback won the biggest prize in the sport when he guided his Los Angeles Rams team to Super Bowl success in 2022.

He’s won other individual awards, and his performances have kept the Rams in contention for a follow up win, but despite his impressive stats, there is a theory that Stafford is one of the most underrated players in the game.

Early Career

Before he joined the Rams in 2021, Matthew Stafford spent eleven years with the Detroit Lions. In an underachieving side that has failed to win the biggest prize in the Super Bowl era, he guided the Lions into the playoffs on three occasions.

Prior to making his debut in 2009, Stafford certainly wasn’t underrated as a college player. He spent his formative years with the Georgia Bulldogs and entered the 2009 NFL draft as the number one pick.

From there, he remained loyal to Detroit, lifting a team that was weak at times. His best performances came in 2016 when he, and his Lions team, made it to the playoffs. At the end of that campaign Stafford, along with Washington Redskins Kirk Cousins, tied for the most fourth quarter comebacks in the League.

It was a respectable career in Detroit, but if Matthew Stafford was seeking silverware, he had to move. The switch to the LA Rams followed in 2021. He won the Super Bowl in his first season with the Rams, but will there be a repeat?

Slow Start

If Matthew Stafford and his LA Rams team are to receive any recognition this season, they need to turn their results around. After the first five games of 2024, the Rams are 1-4 and currently sit at the bottom of the NFC West Division.

At this early stage of the season, the Rams are already among the underdogs for Super Bowl success. At the same time, Stafford’s NFL MVP odds have drifted, so he may have to wait one more season before he can mastermind a playoff push.

It may have been a disappointing campaign so far, but the theory that Matthew Stafford is underrated has been in place for many years.

Respect Among Peers

Across much of his time with the Detroit Lions, Matthew Stafford carried a weaker team. In reaching the playoffs, the franchise punched above their weight on each occasion. It was an impressive achievement for a roster that lacked quality in depth, and Stafford was the key to that progression.

The fact that the Lions didn’t win a Super Bowl possibly meant that their star quarterback didn’t get the recognition he deserved. The wider sporting public may not be impressed, but Matthew Stafford certainly has the respect of his fellow players.

Ahead of the 2024 NFL season, 103 players were polled by ESPN and asked who the most underrated quarterback was. The results put Matthew Stafford in first place with 14 votes.

Low Profile

It seems hard to believe that a quarterback who won the Super Bowl is overlooked by fans and the media, but the results of that survey suggest this is the case with Matthew Stafford. When asked to pick the most influential QBs in the league, his name is rarely mentioned.

Perhaps it’s down to the fact that he keeps a low profile as far as the media is concerned. While other players in his key position may attract media attention due to celebrity relationships or extravagant purchases, Stafford just goes about his business.

He’s also way down the list when it comes to social media followers. Staying under the radar is great for peace of mind, but does it mean he’s overlooked when it comes to awards and fan recognition?

Battling in 2024

It’s early days in the new NFL season, but Matthew Stafford’s stats are down on where he would want them to be. He’s played in all five of the Ram’s games so far and has thrown just three touchdown passes.

He also ranks in the lower sections of the table for other key stats including attempts and passing yards. The players around him are also struggling, and those numbers are a fair reflection of the L.A. Rams’ issues in the opening games of the regular season.

Clearly there is room for improvement this term, but Matthew Stafford’s performances must be judged on his overall contribution to the NFL. He’s a Super Bowl winner, and his second Pro Bowl appearance came as recently as 2023.

Former team the Detroit Lions certainly have respect for their departed quarterback as he slots into their All-Time Team. Perhaps that low media profile holds him back and the lack of publicity is an issue here.

Whatever the reasons may be, that recent poll among NFL players confirms Stafford’s status as an underrated player, but those on-field performances make him worthy of more attention.