Matthew Stafford facing major off-field issue before Rams season originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.Matthew Stafford has plenty to manage as he prepares for another season with the Los Angeles Rams, but a reported financial issue has added an unexpected off-field concern before Week 1. The reigning NFL MVP and his wife, Kelly Stafford, are facing a California state tax lien worth more than $534,000, according to a report from Page Six.AdvertisementThe lien comes as Stafford prepares to lead a Rams team with legitimate Super Bowl expectations into the 2026 NFL season.Matthew Stafford, wife reportedly owe more than $534,000Page Six reported that the California Franchise Tax Board filed a state tax lien totaling $534,453.67 against Matthew and Kelly Stafford for the 2024 taxable year. The lien was reportedly filed July 14 and remains active, according to confirmation the outlet received from the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk. It can attach to property and property rights the Staffords currently own or acquire in the future.Interest and additional fees may continue to accumulate if the reported debt remains unpaid. Representatives for the couple did not immediately respond to Page Six’s request for comment. The reported lien is notable given Stafford’s considerable NFL earnings. The veteran quarterback agreed to a one-year, $55 million contract extension with the Rams in 2026, a deal that is expected to push his career earnings beyond $500 million.AdvertisementStafford has also invested heavily in Southern California real estate since the Detroit Lions traded him to Los Angeles in 2021. He and his wife reportedly purchased a Hidden Hills mansion for $28.15 million in 2023 after spending $10.5 million on a neighboring property one year earlier. The couple also sold three other Hidden Hills homes for a combined $21.3 million in June.The presence of a tax lien does not necessarily mean Stafford is facing an extended legal battle, but it does create an issue that will need to be addressed. Until the lien is paid or otherwise resolved, it remains attached to the couple’s property rights.Stafford preparing for another Super Bowl runStafford’s financial situation is unlikely to affect his availability on the field, where the Rams will once again depend on him to lead one of the NFC’s most dangerous teams. The veteran quarterback is coming off an MVP season and enters 2026 with another talented roster around him. Los Angeles reinforced its championship ambitions during the offseason, most notably by acquiring star pass rusher Myles Garrett from the Cleveland Browns.AdvertisementStafford has already delivered one Super Bowl championship since joining the Rams, helping the franchise win it all following the 2021 season. Even as he moves deeper into his career, Los Angeles has continued to show its confidence in him through its financial commitment. The Rams will begin their season Sept. 10 against the division-rival San Francisco 49ers in Melbourne, Australia. That matchup will put Stafford and Los Angeles in the spotlight immediately.Before that highly anticipated opener arrives, however, the reported $534,453.67 tax lien gives Stafford a significant off-field matter to resolve.
Matthew Stafford facing major off-field issue before Rams season
