While Detroit Lions fans are busy looking ahead to rookie minicamps and OTAs, one former Lion is making headlines of his own — and cashing in big.
Matthew Stafford, the longtime Lions quarterback who’s now with the Los Angeles Rams, just finalized a massive contract extension. NFL insider Ian Rapoport reports that the Rams have bumped Stafford’s salary from $58 million to $84 million over the next two seasons — including a whopping $40 million guaranteed for 2025.
Stafford, now 37, was drafted first overall by Detroit back in 2009. Over 12 seasons in the Motor City, he became the face of the franchise, racking up over 45,000 passing yards, 282 touchdowns, a Pro Bowl selection, and a Comeback Player of the Year award. But it wasn’t until his 2021 trade to L.A. that Stafford reached the mountaintop, leading the Rams to a Super Bowl win in his first season.
Since then, he’s continued to shine, throwing for nearly 15,000 yards and 95 touchdowns in four seasons with the Rams, plus a strong postseason résumé (5-2 record, 15 TDs). Fans in Detroit got a bittersweet reunion last season when the Lions topped Stafford’s Rams in overtime, 26-20.
Now, as the Lions enter 2025 with some of the NFL’s best Super Bowl odds (+950 at FanDuel), Stafford will be out to prove he’s worth every dollar of his new deal — including when the two teams meet again at SoFi Stadium this fall.
Matthew Stafford Cashes In: Rams Hand Ex-Lions QB $84M Deal
