With Matthew Stafford back in the fold for the 2026 season, the quarterback and his representatives have begun discussions with the Rams about a potential reworking of his contract, head coach Sean McVay said Tuesday.
“We’ve had great dialogue,” McVay said. “I feel confident about being able to work those things out. … We’ll work through all of those things but feel good about the direction that we’re headed.”
Stafford, 38, is entering the final year of his contract after winning the NFL’s MVP award for the 2025 season. He is due $40 million for 2026 – 11th among quarterbacks – and will count for around $48.3 million against the salary cap. A reworked contract could both increase Stafford’s compensation while reducing his 2026 cap hit, providing the Rams more avenues to improve their roster.
Rams general manager Les Snead described the discussions as a “stable” situation after Stafford explored the possibility of a trade last winter. Snead said that a contract extension is a potential outcome, but regardless of whether that happens, the Rams and Stafford will still take their year-to-year approach to his future as they have each of the last two offseasons.
“It’s all based on does Matthew as an individual want to continue doing what it takes to be elite in this league?” Snead said. “I think the handshake is take it year to year so he can kind of focus right on the 2026 mountain, and then we’ll worry about the 2027 mountain and the ’28 mountain. … We’re less concerned with the contract and more concerned about him as a person.”
As far as Stafford’s backup, Jimmy Garoppolo is a free agent this offseason and there has been some reporting about him potentially receiving interest from the Arizona Cardinals, which hired Rams offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur to be their head coach this winter.
“I would absolutely want him back,” McVay said, before adding with a smirk, “I did see those reports on Mike trying to steal our guy. No, Jimmy’s a really good player and so we would love him back. I’m sure he’ll have multiple opportunities.”
Extensions on backburner
With free agency set to start next week, the Rams have not begun contract extension talks with their eligible players yet, Snead said, instead focusing on their own pending free agents and potential additions to their team.
McVay had previously expressed interest in long-term partnerships with the Rams’ 2023 draft class of Puka Nacua, Byron Young, Kobie Turner and Steve Avila. On Tuesday, Snead said there is a similar interest in keeping right guard Kevin Dotson – entering the last year of his contract – in Los Angeles.
“Kevin’s been really, really integral here in pass protection and the run game,” Snead said. “Offensive line is something that when you have a stable, experienced, cohesive group that’s worked together, that is always a net positive.”
Wide receiver Davante Adams is entering the final year of his contract with a $28 million cap hit in 2026, but McVay and Snead said there hadn’t been any discussions about a restructure or extension with Adams.
“Feel good about where we’re at there,” McVay said.
Higbee still deciding
Tight end Tyler Higbee is still taking his time to decide on whether he wants to play his 11th NFL season in 2026, McVay said.
“Obviously if that’s something that he wants to do, then we would be very interested in continuing that relationship with him,” McVay said.
Higbee, 33, caught 25 passes for 281 yards in 2025 as he was limited to 10 games due to ankle issues.
Coaching staff updates
Tuesday was the first time McVay spoke to reporters since announcing the Rams’ 2026 coaching staff. For the first time under McVay, the Rams will have an offensive coordinator in the newly promoted Nate Scheelhaase and an associate coordinator in Dave Ragone, who will also continue to serve as quarterbacks coach.
“What we wanted to be able to do is give respect and reverence to both of those guys and the important role and responsibility that they’ll take on,” McVay said. “I thought it was really important to make sure that Dave has a heavier hand – me, Nate and Dave in regards to with the rest of the offensive staff putting together the whole game plan – but I still wanted him to be working closely with Matthew.”
Then there will also be former Cardinals head coach and Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury, who will officially serve as associate head coach for the Rams in 2026.
McVay described Kingsbury as an overseer of everything the Rams will do offensively. He also expects to lean on Kingsbury’s head coaching experience to help navigate the season, as well as picking Kingsbury’s brain about his Air Raid roots and how they might complement his own offensive philosophies.
“As you’re installing your foundational parts of your offense and the different phases in the run and the pass games and the protections, then you’re talking about, ‘OK, what have you done in this arena?’” McVay explained. “And he’ll have cut-ups and representative clips. So it’s kind of organic.”
The Rams also opted to elevate former player Brian Allen to assistant offensive line coach while adding former Rams receiver Robert Woods – who signed a one-day contract to retire with the franchise in February – as an assistant receivers coach.
“I know we’re getting a little bit older now when our former players are starting to infiltrate the staff,” McVay said with a smile. “But these are two guys that represent everything we want to be about.”
One coach who won’t be back in 2026 is Aubrey Pleasant, who served under McVay for seven of the last nine seasons, most recently as assistant head coach and defensive backs coach.
“We had a bunch of conversations,” McVay said. “He made tremendous contributions to us but just felt like it was going to be in the best interest of both parties to be able to move on. Not an easy decision, but one that I do think is going to be best for us.”
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