Matthew Stafford’s skills as a quarterback are impressive, but, actually, there’s more to him than just that.
It’s pretty remarkable, especially considering he’s among the elite in football history. Winning a Super Bowl, being a regular MVP contender—he even took home that award at 37. Young quarterbacks look up to him, wanting to mirror his success.
Still, his other talents often take a backseat.
Stafford has also shown exceptional skill in contract negotiations—he’s quite the strategist.
On Thursday, he finalized his third contract extension with the Rams since joining in 2021. This latest deal adds $55 million, bringing his earnings over the next two years to an eye-popping $105 million, contingent on performance incentives.
On top of all that, he has already made $408 million in his career, which includes $189 million from the Rams alone.
So, how does he keep pulling this off?
To start, he’s among the top quarterbacks currently playing—perhaps even the best.
Since his arrival in Los Angeles, he has consistently delivered a level of play that keeps the Rams in the hunt for the Super Bowl.
With the Rams boasting an exceptional roster and a win-at-all-costs mentality, Stafford’s knack for negotiating perfectly aligns with their ambitions.
He expertly plays up his desire to keep competing and excelling.
Over the past few years, we’ve heard him mention needing to consider whether he will return for another season, or we’ve seen him mingling with Tom Brady in Montana, hinting at a potential move to the Raiders while his own contract talks were stalling.
There were murmurs around the league that Stafford might join the Raiders, especially after Brady took a minority ownership stake there.
The Raiders were ready and offered him a two-year, $100 million deal.
But Stafford, it seems, has been very strategic in all of this.
His latest negotiation has essentially shifted what was owed to him from $58 million to $84 million.
That’s a substantial gain.
Adding in the new contract, there’s a realistic path for him to net $105 million between this year and next.
Looking at the bigger picture, he’s clearly a master negotiator.
However, there’s a conundrum here—the Rams are keen on retaining him, which is really how it should be.
Stafford represents the countless opportunities for the Rams created by General Manager Les Snead’s team-building efforts and Sean McVay’s coaching.
Without a top-tier quarterback, those efforts may not matter much.
The Rams understand that, which is why they made the trade for him in the first place and continue to invest in him.
With Stafford at the helm, his teams have a record of 46-28, including 7-3 in the playoffs, winning the Super Bowl and reaching multiple conference championship games.
Importantly, he recognizes this reality.
That’s why he carefully navigates the dynamics of his playing future.
He’s aware of the crucial role a talented quarterback plays—which means he understands just how valuable he is.
The Rams are clear on this point, too.
So, should he get his due compensation? Absolutely.
