Matthew Stafford, the reigning NFL MVP, signed a one-year contract extension with the Los Angeles Rams in May 2026. The deal extends his contract through the 2027 season and guarantees $55 million, with incentives that could raise the value to $60 million [1, 2, 3].
The extension brings Stafford's remaining contract to two years, with a total potential value of up to $105 million [1, 2, 3]. Stafford is 38 years old as of February 2026 and will turn 39 on February 7, 2027, one week before Super Bowl LXI at the Rams' home stadium, SoFi Stadium [1, 2, 3].
Stafford won the NFL MVP award for the 2025 season at age 37, becoming the oldest quarterback to earn the honor for the first time. That season, he led the league with 4,707 passing yards and 46 passing touchdowns, setting a career high and Rams franchise records [1, 2].
Despite those achievements, Stafford faced significant hurdles. He missed the first month of the 2025 training camp due to a serious back injury. Rams head coach Sean McVay said the team was "nervous as hell" about Stafford's condition and almost placed him on a temporary injured reserve to avoid rushing his recovery. McVay credited a wellness product called the Ammortal Chamber with helping Stafford recover in time to begin the season [4].
During the 2026 NFL draft, the Rams used the No. 13 overall pick to select quarterback Ty Simpson. The team views Simpson as Stafford's eventual successor, who will develop behind the veteran quarterback [1, 2, 3].
Stafford confirmed he will continue playing in 2026, saying simply, "I'll see you guys next year" at the time of his MVP acceptance earlier this year [2]. The one-year extension was publicly announced on May 22, 2026 [1, 2, 3].
