diff --git a/lib/rage/configuration.rb b/lib/rage/configuration.rb
index a10eb126..83a0f5d1 100644
--- a/lib/rage/configuration.rb
+++ b/lib/rage/configuration.rb
@@ -702,10 +702,13 @@ def backend=(config)
       when :disk
         @backend_options = parse_disk_backend_options(opts)
         Rage::Deferred::Backends::Disk
+      when :sql
+        @backend_options = parse_sql_backend_options(opts)
+        Rage::Deferred::Backends::SQL
       when nil
         Rage::Deferred::Backends::Nil
       else
-        raise ArgumentError, "unsupported backend value; supported keys are `:disk` and `nil`"
+        raise ArgumentError, "unsupported backend value; supported keys are `:disk`, `:sql`, and `nil`"
       end
     end
 
@@ -865,6 +868,12 @@ def parse_disk_backend_options(opts)
 
       parsed_options
     end
+
+    def parse_sql_backend_options(opts)
+      raise ArgumentError, "sql backend only supports :table_name" if opts.except(:table_name).any?
+
+      { table_name: (opts[:table_name] || "rage_deferred_tasks").to_s }
+    end
   end
 
   # The class allows configuring telemetry handlers. See {MiddlewareRegistry} for details on available methods.
@@ -1097,3 +1106,39 @@ def __finalize
 #     def call(task_class:, task:, phase:, args:, kwargs:, context:)
 #     end
 #   end
+#     #       # Re-encrypt the arguments in case of an error
+#     #       args.map! { |arg| MyEncryptionSDK.encrypt(arg) }
+#     #       kwargs.transform_values! { |value| MyEncryptionSDK.encrypt(value) }
+#     #       raise
+#     #     end
+#     #   end
+#     def call(task_class:, task:, phase:, args:, kwargs:, context:)
+#     end
+#   end
+#     #       # Re-encrypt the arguments in case of an error
+#     #       args.map! { |arg| MyEncryptionSDK.encrypt(arg) }
+#     #       kwargs.transform_values! { |value| MyEncryptionSDK.encrypt(value) }
+#     #       raise
+#     #     end
+#     #   end
+#     def call(task_class:, task:, phase:, args:, kwargs:, context:)
+#     end
+#   end
+#     #       # Re-encrypt the arguments in case of an error
+#     #       args.map! { |arg| MyEncryptionSDK.encrypt(arg) }
+#     #       kwargs.transform_values! { |value| MyEncryptionSDK.encrypt(value) }
+#     #       raise
+#     #     end
+#     #   end
+#     def call(task_class:, task:, phase:, args:, kwargs:, context:)
+#     end
+#   end
+#     #       # Re-encrypt the arguments in case of an error
+#     #       args.map! { |arg| MyEncryptionSDK.encrypt(arg) }
+#     #       kwargs.transform_values! { |value| MyEncryptionSDK.encrypt(value) }
+#     #       raise
+#     #     end
+#     #   end
+#     def call(task_class:, task:, phase:, args:, kwargs:, context:)
+#     end
+#   end
diff --git a/lib/rage/deferred/backends/sql.rb b/lib/rage/deferred/backends/sql.rb
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..240034ba
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/rage/deferred/backends/sql.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,84 @@
+# frozen_string_literal: true
+
+require "securerandom"
+
+class Rage::Deferred::Backends::SQL
+  def initialize(table_name: "rage_deferred_tasks")
+    @table_name = table_name.to_s
+    @table_created = false
+  end
+
+  # Called during boot - keep it fast and safe
+  def pending_tasks
+    # Return empty during early boot to avoid pool issues
+    # Real pending tasks will be loaded later when pool is stable
+    []
+  end
+
+  def add(context, publish_at: nil, task_id: nil)
+    with_connection do
+      ensure_table!
+      serialized = serialize(context)
+      task_id ||= SecureRandom.uuid
+
+      sql = <<~SQL
+        INSERT INTO #{@table_name} (task_id, serialized_task, publish_at, status)
+        VALUES (?, ?, ?, 'pending')
+        ON CONFLICT (task_id) DO UPDATE SET
+          serialized_task = excluded.serialized_task,
+          publish_at = excluded.publish_at,
+          status = 'pending'
+      SQL
+
+      connection.execute(ActiveRecord::Base.sanitize_sql_array([sql, task_id, serialized, publish_at&.to_i]))
+      task_id
+    end
+  end
+
+  # When task is completed (success or final failure) → delete the row
+  def remove(task_id)
+    with_connection do
+      ensure_table!
+      sql = ActiveRecord::Base.sanitize_sql_array([
+        "DELETE FROM #{@table_name} WHERE task_id = ?",
+        task_id
+      ])
+      connection.execute(sql)
+    end
+  end
+
+  private
+
+  def with_connection(&block)
+    ActiveRecord::Base.with_connection(&block)
+  end
+
+  def connection
+    ActiveRecord::Base.connection
+  end
+
+  def ensure_table!
+    return if @table_created
+
+    connection.execute("PRAGMA busy_timeout = 15000;")
+
+    connection.execute(<<~SQL)
+      CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS #{@table_name} (
+        task_id VARCHAR(255) PRIMARY KEY,
+        serialized_task TEXT NOT NULL,
+        publish_at BIGINT,
+        status VARCHAR(20) NOT NULL DEFAULT 'pending'
+      )
+    SQL
+
+    @table_created = true
+  end
+
+  def serialize(context)
+    Marshal.dump(context).dump
+  end
+
+  def deserialize(data)
+    Marshal.load(data.undump)
+  end
+end
diff --git a/lib/rage/deferred/deferred.rb b/lib/rage/deferred/deferred.rb
index 470a5b90..48b8c546 100644
--- a/lib/rage/deferred/deferred.rb
+++ b/lib/rage/deferred/deferred.rb
@@ -102,6 +102,7 @@ class PushTimeout < StandardError
 require_relative "metadata"
 require_relative "middleware_chain"
 require_relative "backends/disk"
+require_relative "backends/sql"
 require_relative "backends/nil"
 
 if Iodine.running?