ALLEN PARK, Mich. -- Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta is currently focused on the 2026 season but acknowledged for the first time after Wednesday's practice that he has broken off contract talks on an extension.
LaPorta says he would like to think that he's optimistic about reaching a new deal but is also unsure if things will get worked out before he's set to become a free agent in 2027.
"I don't know if it's truly off the table, but I think there's certainly a stalemate right now and I'm really giving the reigns to my agent Jack Bechta," LaPorta said. "He's been handling it with the front office and all the advice he's given me so far is just that we haven't come to terms yet. That's about it."
NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported Sunday that the Lions and LaPorta have broken off contract talks.
The Lions have been trying to work out a long-term deal with LaPorta for the first few weeks but have yet to agree to terms. After selecting him in the second round of the 2023 NFL draft out of Iowa, the Lions would have the franchise tag available as well.
After undergoing surgery in November to repair a fully herniated disk, and missing the final eight games of the 2025 season, LaPorta has returned to the mix to be a big part of the offense under new offensive coordinator Drew Petzing.
The 25-year-old has logged the third-most receiving yards (228) with two touchdowns through the first four games.
Although the Lions fell to 2-2 after a 32-26 loss to the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, head coach Dan Campbell described his 8-reception, 84-yard performance as LaPorta's best game of the season, where he also finished with a touchdown.
Campbell feels this his "production speaks for itself" but has shied away from focusing on the LaPorta's business with the organization.
"All that stuff, man, that's the last thing on my mind right now is what's going on with all that," Campbell said. "Man, there's always going to be two sides, and you work through these things and just because there's a report of that doesn't mean that that's some big issue, big deal. I love LaPorta. We love LaPorta. He's a heck of a football player."
For LaPorta, it's not important to be the highest paid tight end in the league but he would like to be paid his value. Bechta, his agent, also represents Tucker Kraft, who agreed to a four-year, $75 million contract prior to the season with the Green Bay Packers.
"I've never hung my hat on being the highest paid tight end, being the first tight end to get drafted in my class, making the Pro Bowl, being First-Team All-Pro," LaPorta said. "I've always put all my chips in the pile of 'what can I do for the team?' And those chips are still all there. Like I said, I'm letting my agent and the front office handle the financial side of things."