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There was no doubt that Matthew Stafford would return for the 2026 season after saying so during his 2025 MVP Award acceptance speech, but the Los Angeles Rams officially agreed to an extension with their starting quarterback on Thursday.
Stafford and the Rams agreed to a one-year extension, the team announced Thursday. The extension is worth $55 million and could reach as high as $60 million with incentives, according to ESPN.
He now has two years and up to $105 million left on his contract with the Rams.
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Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford reacts after throwing a touchdown pass during an NFL game against the New York Jets in East Rutherford, NJ on December 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Stafford had one more year left on the two-year, $84 million deal he signed with Los Angeles before the 2025 season, but this extension shows the 38-year-old’s desire to play past this upcoming campaign.
Clearly, Stafford still has more on his mind in his career after tallying 4,707 passing yards and 46 touchdowns in his MVP season a year ago.
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This year, Stafford turns 39 a week before Super Bowl LXI, which happens to be set for the Rams’ home stadium, SoFi Stadium. It’s also where Stafford helped deliver the Rams their most recent Super Bowl title during the 2021 season.
Stafford is entering his 18th season in the NFL, his sixth with the Rams since being traded by the Detroit Lions before the 2021 season.
Matthew Stafford of the Los Angeles Rams stands on the field before the NFC Championship game against the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington on January 25, 2026. (Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)
Detroit made Stafford the No. 1 overall pick out of Georgia in 2009, and he spent 12 years with the franchise before their blockbuster trade involving their current starting quarterback, Jared Goff.
And while Stafford is now up for the 2027 season, the Rams clearly thought about their quarterback future this offseason, adding Alabama’s Ty Simpson with the 13th overall pick. It is widely believed that Simpson will learn from Stafford and eventually become his successor.
Stafford’s mindset was clear for the 2026 season, telling everyone at NFL Honors, “See you next year.”
Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford leaves the field after the 2026 NFC Championship game against the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington on January 25, 2026. (Steven Bisig/Imagn Images)
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But the future Hall of Famer appears to want another year added to that clock, focused on continuing his run with Rams head coach Sean McVay.
