Current NFL Most Valuable Player Matthew Stafford has finalized a one-year contract extension with the Los Angeles Rams that will keep him with the franchise through the 2027 season.
The team made the announcement Thursday but did not disclose financial terms immediately. According to ESPN’s reporting, the 2027 contract is valued at $55 million with the possibility of reaching $60 million, representing an increase from his current season’s compensation.
This agreement suggests the 38-year-old quarterback is seriously considering remaining with Los Angeles beyond 2026. This development is significant given Stafford’s previously stated approach of evaluating his career on an annual basis since capturing the Super Bowl title in February 2022, and his decision to return for the coming season was only announced when he received his MVP award in February.
The organization caught many by surprise when they selected Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson with the 13th overall selection in last month’s draft, temporarily raising questions about Stafford’s future role — until head coach Sean McVay clearly stated that Stafford remains the team’s starting quarterback for however long he chooses to continue playing.
“Whenever that time comes for (Simpson) to get an opportunity to be Matthew’s successor will be on Matthew’s terms,” McVay said at the time. “I didn’t want that to ever be misunderstood. … It is Matthew’s football team.”
Stafford just completed one of his finest professional seasons, earning his first MVP recognition while narrowly defeating New England’s Drake Maye in the balloting. He led the league with 4,707 passing yards and achieved a personal best with 46 touchdown passes while throwing only eight interceptions, then guided the Rams through two playoff road wins to reach the NFC championship contest.
The coming season marks Stafford’s 18th year in professional football and his sixth campaign with Los Angeles, who obtained him through a trade with Detroit in 2021. Stafford ranks sixth all-time in NFL passing yards with 64,516 and sits seventh in touchdown passes with 423, trailing Philip Rivers by just two.
Los Angeles enters the season among the top Super Bowl contenders despite using their first-round selection on a quarterback who appears unlikely to see significant playing time for at least two seasons. Simpson has expressed enthusiasm about developing under Stafford’s guidance, describing it as “a perfect situation” for a quarterback who started just one season with the Crimson Tide.
The team’s organized team activities are scheduled to begin next week.
This year’s Super Bowl will take place at the Rams’ home venue, SoFi Stadium, occurring one week following Stafford’s 39th birthday. He previously guided the Rams to their championship victory in a Super Bowl held at SoFi.
