Matthew Stafford Signs Contract Extension with Rams
It was pretty clear that Matthew Stafford would be back for the 2026 season, especially after he mentioned it during his MVP Award acceptance speech in 2025. But now, the Los Angeles Rams have officially announced a contract extension for their star quarterback.
The extension, confirmed by the team on Thursday, is a one-year deal valued at $55 million, which could rise to $60 million depending on performance incentives. Stafford still has two years left on his original contract with the Rams, worth up to $105 million.
Originally, Stafford had one year remaining on the two-year, $84 million contract he signed before the 2025 season. This new extension reflects the 38-year-old’s clear intent to play beyond just next season.
In his remarkable MVP season last year, Stafford threw for 4,707 yards and a total of 46 touchdowns, which certainly indicates that he has more to offer in his career.
This year, Stafford will celebrate his 39th birthday just a week before Super Bowl XI, which will take place at SoFi Stadium—home of the Rams. It’s worth noting that it’s the same venue where he led the Rams to a Super Bowl title in the 2021 season.
Entering his 18th year in the NFL, Stafford is in his sixth season with the Rams after moving from the Detroit Lions prior to the 2021 season.
Detroit drafted Stafford with the No. 1 overall pick out of Georgia back in 2009. He spent 12 seasons with the Lions before they made a significant trade for current quarterback Jared Goff.
While Stafford is secured with the Rams until the 2027 season, the team has also been planning for the future by selecting Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson with the 13th overall pick. Simpson is anticipated to learn under Stafford and eventually take over the role.
Stafford’s ambitions for the 2026 season were apparent when he told everyone at the NFL Honors, “See you next year.” It seems this future Hall of Famer is not ready to slow down just yet, focusing on continuing his journey with head coach Sean McVay.
