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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 came to terms on 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 can go up to $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, New Jersey, on December 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Stafford had one more year left on the two-year, $84 million contract he signed with Los Angeles before the 2025 season, but signing this extension shows the 38-year-old’s desire to play beyond this upcoming season.
It’s clear Stafford still has more in the tank for his career after totaling 4,707 passing yards and 46 touchdowns in his MVP season a year ago.
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This year, Stafford will turn 39 a week before Super Bowl LXI, which just so happens to be held at 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 will be entering his 18th NFL season, his sixth with the Rams since he was traded to the Detroit Lions before the 2021 season.
Matthew Stafford of the Los Angeles Rams is 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 selected Stafford with the first overall pick out of Georgia in 2009, and he spent 12 years with the franchise before their blockbuster trade, which involved their current starting quarterback, Jared Goff.
And while Stafford is now set through the 2027 season, the Rams clearly thought about their quarterback’s future this offseason, adding Alabama’s Ty Simpson with the 13th overall pick. Simpson is widely considered to learn behind Stafford and ultimately become his successor.
Stafford’s mindset was clear for the 2026 season, telling everyone at the NFL Honors, “I’ll 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/Image Images)
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But the future Hall of Famer appears to want to add another year to that clock, focused on continuing his career under Rams head coach Sean McVay.
