The Rams and quarterback Matthew Stafford have reached a deal on a modified contract, averting a holdout to start training camp.
Sean McVay, the head coach, announced the agreement during his Tuesday press conference. McVay was supposed to speak hours before his press conference began, but he was part of the meeting between the Rams’ brass and Stafford’s representatives to finalize the new contract.
“That’s what the delay was for,” McVay explained. “And so, grateful that we came to the solution that I think we all wanted and now we can focus on this time and him being able to lead the way, and a lot of exciting things to potentially be in store.”
Stafford, 36, had been looking for more security in his contract, with only $15 million guaranteed after the 2024 season. Stafford is still signed until 2026, as the amended pact did not include any more years.
“There’s been a lot of things that I’ve seen out there and a lot of the things — and I don’t want to say somebody wasn’t accurate — but we were able to get this solved,” McVay told CNN. “We were able to comprehend what was vital and express it from both sides. And I believe that ultimately, the goal was to reach an agreement and find common ground. We were able to accomplish that, which was the purpose. But I don’t want to dig into too many details.
“What I am grateful for is we were able to solve whatever that ‘issue’ was and now where we are and I’m excited to be able to talk about football and how we move forward.”
Stafford helped the Rams win the Super Bowl in 2021, his first with Los Angeles. Last season, he completed 63% of his passes for 3,965 yards, 24 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. In 2023, he made the Pro Bowl for only the second time in his career.
