Rams Confident Matthew Stafford Will Play Beyond 2026 Season

Head coach Sean McVay says the team is open to extending Stafford's contract and believes he can play for several more years.

Mar. 30, 2026 at 7:49pm

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An abstract painting in neon colors and dynamic brushstrokes depicting the powerful movements of an NFL quarterback, conceptually representing the Rams' plans to extend veteran QB Matthew Stafford's career.An explosive, expressionist painting captures the raw energy and skill of veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford as the Rams plan for both the short-term and long-term future.Stafford Today

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, who turned 38 in February, has committed to playing the 2026 season. Head coach Sean McVay says the team is open to restructuring Stafford's contract to add additional years, and he believes Stafford can continue playing at a high level beyond the upcoming season. McVay praised his close relationship with Stafford and the quarterback's work ethic, noting the Rams want to plan for both the short and long term at the position.

Why it matters

Stafford's future is a critical question for the Rams as they look to defend their Super Bowl title and remain competitive in the coming years. The team's willingness to extend Stafford's contract shows their confidence in his ability to play at a high level for the foreseeable future, providing stability at the quarterback position.

The details

The Rams acquired Stafford in a trade with the Detroit Lions in 2021, and he promptly helped the team win the Super Bowl that season. Stafford is entering the final year of a two-year, $84.4 million contract that the Rams reworked last offseason. Despite Stafford's age and some injury concerns in the past, McVay believes the veteran quarterback is 'getting better with age' and is coming off an MVP-winning season.

  • Stafford turned 38 in February 2026.
  • Stafford is entering his 18th NFL season in 2026.

The players

Matthew Stafford

The 38-year-old quarterback of the Los Angeles Rams who is entering the final year of his contract but could play beyond the 2026 season.

Sean McVay

The head coach of the Los Angeles Rams who has a close relationship with Stafford and is open to extending his contract.

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What they’re saying

“'Sean McVay said the Rams do think about life after Matthew Stafford, though 'it wouldn't shock me if he played more than one year.''”

— Sean McVay, Head Coach, Los Angeles Rams

“'McVay said Rams have discussed with Stafford a contract restructure which could add additional years, but conversations have been 'a lot smoother than last year.''”

— Sean McVay, Head Coach, Los Angeles Rams

“'Our relationship went to different levels … as a result of some of the hard conversations we had to have last year. And I think that's one of the things that [I've] started to learn. And when you get into a leadership role for a handful of years, and you learn from a lot of mistakes you've made, there's nothing wrong with loving people enough to tell them the truth. Being courageous enough to have some of those hard conversations. And I think we were able to have a lot of dialogue, really, with he and his family,'”

— Sean McVay, Head Coach, Los Angeles Rams

“'He works so hard. He does so much behind the scenes, and his teammates love him. It's a real blessing to be able to work with him. And so, it's cool. I'm glad we're not talking about the things we did last year, while also acknowledging it was a blessing to go through that because we got closer in the midst of it.'”

— Sean McVay, Head Coach, Los Angeles Rams

What’s next

The Rams and Stafford will continue contract negotiations, with the possibility of adding additional years to his deal.

The takeaway

The Rams' commitment to keeping Stafford as their starting quarterback beyond the 2026 season shows their confidence in his ability to play at a high level for several more years. The close relationship between Stafford and head coach Sean McVay has only strengthened, and the team is willing to restructure the veteran QB's contract to keep him in Los Angeles.