Fans have had some visions of him coming back to the Lions to end his career, but Matthew Stafford’s contract extension all but assures he’ll finish his career with the Rams.
The Detroit Lions did Matthew Stafford a favor by letting him pick the team he was traded to last offseason, and it of course paid off with a Super Bowl ring quarterbacking the Los Angeles Rams.
But as the end of his contract was on the horizon (2022), some Lions fans have had visions (realistic or not) of Stafford coming back to Detroit when the roster was in better shape to end his career with some glory back as a Lion. Well, that idea is probably gone now.
According to multiple reports, Stafford and the Rams have agred to a four-year, $160 million contract extension with $135 million guaranteed.
Rams and Matthew Stafford finalized a four-year, $160 million extension that includes $135 million guaranteed that should allow the veteran QB to finish his career in Los Angeles, sources tell ESPN.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 19, 2022
Here’s a sample of the Twitter reaction to the news.
Wallet Padford. https://t.co/nKFcbFuzhN
— Justin Rogers (@Justin_Rogers) March 19, 2022
That’s a lot of new phones. https://t.co/JLFXgHOw5N
— Pride of Detroit (@PrideOfDetroit) March 19, 2022
Stafford is now under contract through 2026. He tied his career-high with 41 touchdown passes last season, with the third-highest passing yardage total of his career (4,886) and his second-best passer rating (102.9). He and the Rams are sure to remain a happy football marriage.
Matthew Stafford could play beyond his new contract with the Rams
Stafford will enter the 2026 season at 38 years old, and end it fairly close to his 39th birthday (on Feb. 7, 2027). The NFL’s rules make it easier for quarterbacks to play longer, so the idea he’d play into his 40’s is not at all ludicrous and being a pocket passer makes it even more possible.
Where Stafford stands on the idea of playing into his 40’s is unclear, and may be dictated by what the Rams do as a team over the next five seasons. A couple more Super Bowl rings, and even more money to set up his family for generations, might be enough for him to call it a career around his 39th birthday and after what would be 18 NFL seasons. But there’s a chance he’ll want to play longer and the Rams are ready to move on…which keeps the door open a crack for a return to finish his career with the Lions.