The Detroit Lions and quarterback Matthew Stafford have agreed to a five-year, $135 million deal that would make Stafford the highest-paid player in NFL history, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
The contract extension includes a $50 million signing bonus and $92 million guaranteed, both NFL highs, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.
In his eight seasons with Detroit, Stafford has earned a 51-58 record, led the Lions to three playoff games in 2012, 2015 and 2017— all losses — and thrown for 30,303 yards, 187 touchdowns and 108 interceptions.
In his NFL career, Stafford has 5-46 against teams that finish the season with a winning record and 1-25 on the road, according to ESPN’s Dan Le Batard Show.
The deal eclipses the five-year, $125 million deal of Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr from June. Carr was previously the highest-paid player in NFL history.
The first overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft out of Georgia, Stafford led the Bulldogs from 2006 through 2008, throwing for 7,731 yards, 51 touchdowns and 33 interceptions.
Here’s what fans and NFL players had to say about Stafford’s record-breaking deal:
About the Author
