Matthew Stafford Finalizes $44 Million Deal with Rams for 2025, Eyes Future with Franchise
Matthew Stafford’s future with the Los Angeles Rams is a little more secure — at least for now. The veteran quarterback has finalized a deal that will pay him $44 million for the 2025 NFL season, according to NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport.
The agreement, reportedly negotiated during the NFL Scouting Combine, had been in the works for months but wasn’t officially completed until this week. Of the $44 million total, $4 million has already been paid, with the remaining $40 million fully guaranteed.
It’s a lucrative year for the 37-year-old Super Bowl champion, who originally had $58 million remaining on his previous deal through 2026. Under this new agreement, Stafford now stands to earn $84 million over the same span — an increase of $26 million.
But the deal doesn’t just stop at 2025. If Stafford is still on the Rams’ roster at the start of free agency in 2026, he will trigger an additional $40 million guarantee, setting him up for yet another payday and potentially securing his place with the franchise for a longer haul.
Earlier this offseason, Los Angeles gave Stafford the green light to explore trade opportunities, with teams like the New York Giants and Las Vegas Raiders expressing interest. However, Stafford ultimately reaffirmed his commitment to the Rams, preferring to stay in L.A., where he helped lead the team to a Super Bowl LVI title.
Rams head coach Sean McVay has made it clear he still believes in his quarterback — and wants him around for more than just one more year.
“We have a chance with him every time he’s at the switch,” McVay said last week on SiriusXM’s Mad Dog Sports Radio. “I think he can play as long as he wants, but fortunately, I’m hoping it’s a couple more years.”
At this stage of his career, Stafford and the Rams are clearly taking things on a year-to-year basis. Last year, it took until the end of July to reach a contract resolution. This time, the process was faster but still deliberate.
Stafford is heading into his 17th NFL season, and the possibility of retirement continues to loom. However, he finished the 2024 campaign healthy and playing some of his best football, helping lead an upstart Rams squad to an NFC West title and a postseason win over Minnesota.
Despite speculation about succession plans, the Rams have not added a clear long-term replacement for Stafford. Jimmy Garoppolo was signed as a stopgap, and second-year quarterback Stetson Bennett remains a developmental option. L.A. opted not to select a rookie QB in the 2025 NFL Draft, signaling confidence in Stafford — or perhaps patience as they eye a deeper quarterback class in 2026.
Stafford’s new deal ensures that the Rams remain competitive with a proven leader under center — at least through 2025. And while his long-term future is still uncertain, both sides appear committed to seeing where this latest chapter goes.
