Tom Brady reveals the one factor that could trouble Matthew Stafford in Chicago

The Los Angeles Rams walk into one of the toughest environments in the NFL this weekend, and the spotlight once again lands on quarterback Matthew Stafford. The Rams face the Chicago Bears on January 18, 2026, at Soldier Field, where winter conditions often shape the outcome as much as play-calling.

This time, the conversation took a sharper turn after Tom Brady weighed in. The seven-time Super Bowl champion offered perspective on cold-weather football while speaking about Stafford’s situation, not as criticism but as a reminder of how quickly conditions can test even proven quarterbacks.

Tom Brady on Matthew Stafford’s cold-weather adjustment

Brady shared his thoughts during an appearance on "The Herd with Colin Cowherd" earlier this month. While discussing playoff football and QB preparation, Brady pointed to weather as a subtle but real factor in Chicago’s favor.


“Matt did play in Detroit for a long time, and in that division he went outside to Chicago and Green Bay,” Brady said on the FOX Sports show. “It’s not like he hasn’t played in it. But I will say, when I went to Tampa after my time in New England, it didn’t take me very long to get very soft in the cold.”

TB-12's comment came with context, no doubt. Stafford spent 12 seasons with the Detroit Lions and played many games in the freezing conditions of the NFC North. But since joining the Rams in 2021, most of his winters in Southern California have been mild. Chicago expects temperatures near 10 degrees on Sunday, with wind gusts close to 20 miles per hour. Wind chill could push the “feels like” temperature closer to four degrees by kickoff.

Brady explained how quickly the body reacts when cold exposure becomes rare. He recalled Tampa Bay’s NFC Championship Game trip to Green Bay during the 2020 season.

“That game was around 32 to 34 degrees at kickoff,” Brady said during the interview. “It wasn’t minus-nine. That’s really cold. And that’s a big advantage for Chicago.”

The Bears know this well. Over the past six weeks, Chicago leaned into Soldier Field’s conditions and used them to disrupt visiting offenses. Cold tightens hands. Plus, footing changes route depth and release speed.

Stafford enters the matchup healthy and confident, but this test goes beyond arm strength. It demands patience, grip control, and trust in short throws. Brady’s message focused on adjustment, not weakness. Sunday’s game will show whether Stafford’s experience, preparation, and playoff poise can meet the challenge. If he adapts early, the weather becomes just another obstacle, not the story.

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