As far back as last December, at least, Matthew Stafford has insisted that he is not retiring in 2023. The rumors come up and to his credit, Stafford has answered to them when he really doesn’t have to do that. I don’t think it would be responsible to take a rumor about Stafford and then to totally discount that he himself has said that it’s not true. It would also be irresponsible to ignore rumors that could be credible, especially given that what Stafford said three months ago could still change as more time passes.
When it’s concerning health, his arm, his age, and his safety, retirement rumors are difficult to ignore until the proof is in practice.