Matthew Stafford will lose millions just by playing in NFL season opener in Australia
Matthew Stafford will lose millions just by playing in NFL season opener in Australia
Jeremy Goldstein Wed, September 9, 2026 at 3:13 PM UTC
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Matthew Stafford is getting ready for his 18th NFL season -Credit:Getty Images
Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford has one of the 10 biggest contracts in the NFL for the 2026 season. He'll earn $55 million — a figure that included a large signing bonus — in 2026.
The 2025 MVP winner will earn around $2.2 million per game, but he will reportedly see a large portion of that shaved off from the Rams' Week 1 matchup in Australia against the NFC West division rival San Francisco 49ers.
Stafford is expected to forfeit around $960,000 to the Australian government (which will offset his federal bill owed to the United States) and owe a futher $300,000 in California taxes. It comes as a FOX chief addressed concerns over Tom Brady's future with a Troy Aikman comparison.
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The Rams signal-caller will only keep around $950,000 over his $2.2 million game check, or approximately 43 percent.
He will also have the pleasure of becoming one of the NFL's first two quarterbacks — alongside 49ers QB Brock Purdy — to throw a professional pass in Australia.
The Rams and 49ers will play on September 11 (September 10 in the United States) at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, over 8,000 miles from both Los Angeles and San Francisco.
Stafford's team went all in once again this offseason, acquiring All-Pro stars Myles Garrett and Trent McDuffie in separate trades to fortify the side's already potent defense.
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"The team that we were at the end of the season last year wasn't the team that we were Week 1, both in personnel, execution, all that. You develop yourself as you go," Stafford told reporters this week.
With Puka Nacua back, Stafford and the Rams offense is projected to be amongst the league's best
"You try to continue to get better and better. I feel like we've had a really solid offseason, a really nice, strong training camp on both sides of the ball.
"That puts you in a position to have confidence going into the season that you understand what your team's about. Then, inevitably, things happen and you've got to morph and change and find the ways to be successful."
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Stafford will return to an offense still with receivers Puka Nacua and Devante Adams. He'll have a chance to continue to climb further up all-time NFL record lists.
He enters the season ranked sixth in league history for passing yards, trailing Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers by around 2,000 yards.
Brett Favre and Peyton Manning are just 7,000 ahead, giving Stafford a realistic two-year target to move into the top three (behind only Drew Brees and Tom Brady).
It comes after Travis Kelce gave a blunt 10-word explanation for refusing to sign a football for a young Kansas City Chiefs fan.
Source: “AOL Sports”
