John Matthew Stafford, born on February 7, 1988, is an American football quarterback who currently plays for the Los Angeles Rams in the NFL. He played college football at the University of Georgia and was chosen as the first overall pick by the Detroit Lions in the 2009 NFL draft. Stafford is highly ranked in various passing statistics and holds the record for being the fastest player in NFL history to reach 40,000 career passing yards.
During his time with the Lions from 2009 to 2020, Stafford had a standout season in 2011 where he became one of only four quarterbacks to pass for over 5,000 yards in a single season. He also led the Lions to their first playoff appearance in over a decade. Additionally, he guided the team to two more playoff appearances in 2014 and 2016, earning Pro Bowl honors in the former and setting a record for the most comeback wins in a single season in the latter.
After leaving the Lions by mutual agreement, Stafford was traded to the Rams in 2021. In his first season with the Rams, he helped lead them to victory in Super Bowl LVl.
| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Full Name | John Matthew Stafford |
| DOB (Age) | 07-02-1988 (36 yrs) |
| Height | 6 ft 3 in (1.9 m) |
| Weight | 220 lbs (100 kgs) |
| Born | Tampa, FL |
| College | University of Georgia |
| Draft | 2009 – Rd: 1, Pick: 1 (DET) |
| Debut | September 9, 2013 |
| Nickname | Stat Padford |
| Spouse | Kelly Hall |
| Zodiac sign | Aquarius |
| Nationality | American |
| Parents | Father – John Stafford <br> Mother – Margaret Stafford |
| Siblings | Elder sister – Page Stafford |
Matthew Stafford’s Early Life and Background:
Matthew Stafford was born in Tampa, Florida, and grew up mostly in Dallas, Texas, with his parents, John and Margaret Stafford, and his older sister. He honed his football skills under coach Randy Allen at Highland Park High School, where he became known as one of the top quarterbacks in the country. Stafford led his high school team to victory in the UIL 4A Division I State Champions with an undefeated record of 15-0. He also earned recognition at the 2005 EA Sports Elite 11 Quarterback Camp, winning both the MVP and Best Arm awards, and was named the 2005 EA Sports National Player of the Year.
In January 2006, Stafford began his college career as a quarterback at the University of Georgia. He made history as the first true freshman quarterback to start for the Georgia Bulldogs football team since Quincy Carter in 1998. Over three seasons, Stafford played a key role in the Bulldogs’ victories, including wins in the 2006 Chick-fil-A Bowl, 2008 Sugar Bowl, and 2009 Capital One Bowl. Even in tough losses like against rivals Georgia Tech, Stafford showcased his talent, completing 24 of 39 passes for 407 yards and 5 passing touchdowns.
Matthew Stafford’s NFL Journey:
After being selected as the first pick in the 2009 NFL draft by the Detroit Lions, Stafford became the team’s starting quarterback in Week 1, making him the first Lions rookie quarterback to do so since 1968. In his second game against the Minnesota Vikings, despite a loss, he threw his first career touchdown pass to Calvin Johnson. Stafford secured his first NFL win in the following game against the Washington Redskins. Throughout his rookie season, he set numerous records, including becoming the youngest quarterback to throw five touchdowns in a game, which he achieved against the Cleveland Browns. This performance earned him recognition as NFC Offensive Player of the Week and Pepsi Rookie of the Week.
In his fifth season with the Lions, Stafford signed a three-year extension worth $53 million. He then inked another five-year contract in August 2017 valued at $135 million, with $92 million guaranteed, making him the highest-paid player in NFL history at the time.
On March 18, 2021, Stafford was traded to the Los Angeles Rams in exchange for quarterback Jared Goff and a 2021 third-round pick. He signed a new four-year, $160 million deal in March 2022, which included a $60 million signing bonus. During his first season with the Rams, Stafford led the team to the NFC Championship for the first time in his career, ultimately earning them a spot in Super Bowl VI. However, in the following season in 2022, he suffered a spinal cord injury during a game against the Seattle Seahawks, leading to his placement on injured reserve in early December.
Matthew Stafford’s Teams:
Detroit Lions (2009-2021)
Matthew Stafford proved his worth after being drafted by the Detroit Lions in the 2009 NFL draft. During his tenure with the Lions, he set numerous franchise records, including most passing yards, passing touchdowns, attempts, and completions. Stafford also holds records for quarterback wins, fourth-quarter comebacks, and game-winning drives. Despite facing injuries, Stafford showcased his talent, leading the Lions to successful seasons and achieving milestones like completing over 60% of his passes in a single season.
Los Angeles Rams (2021-present)
Stafford’s transition to the Los Angeles Rams marked a new chapter in his career, with an impressive debut against the Chicago Bears. He quickly established himself as a key player, earning NFC Offensive Player of the Week honors multiple times. His leadership guided the Rams to the NFC Championship and ultimately to victory in Super Bowl VI, where he played a pivotal role in securing the win against the Cincinnati Bengals. In his first Super Bowl appearance, Stafford showcased his skills by throwing three crucial touchdown passes, leading the Rams to their second Super Bowl title.
Matthew Stafford’s Records:
NFL Records
- Rookie Records: Stafford shares the record for most passing touchdowns in a single game by a rookie quarterback and is the youngest quarterback to achieve this feat.
- Completion Percentage: He was the first player in NFL history to complete 60% or more of all passes in each game in a season.
- Yards and Touchdowns: Stafford holds numerous records for fastest player to reach career passing yard milestones, including 25,000, 30,000, 35,000, 40,000, and 45,000 yards. He also holds records for most passing yards in first 100 games and most fourth-quarter comebacks in a season.
- Passing Attempts: Stafford set records for most passing attempts in a season and per game.
- Game Performance: He is the only quarterback to have thrown for over 500 yards in a single game and 5,000+ yards in the same season.
Detroit Lions Franchise Records
- Passing Yards: Stafford holds most passing yards in franchise history for both career and single season.
- Touchdowns: He has the most passing touchdowns in franchise history for both career and single season.
- Completion Percentage: Stafford has the highest career completion percentage and shares the record for highest completion percentage in a single season with Jared Goff.
- Game-Winning Drives: He holds records for most career game-winning drives and most in a single season.
- Yards per Game: Stafford has the highest career yards per game average in franchise history.
- Passer Rating: He has the highest career passer rating and set the record for highest passer rating in a single season.
- Fourth-Quarter Comebacks: Stafford holds records for most career fourth-quarter comeback wins and most in a single season.
Los Angeles Rams Franchise Records
- Touchdowns and Passing Yards: Stafford shares records for most touchdown passes and passing yards in a single season.
Matthew Stafford’s Net Worth:
Matthew Stafford’s current net worth is approximately $85 million. He earned significant sums from his contracts with the Detroit Lions, including a record-breaking deal in 2017 worth $135 million. When he moved from the Lions to the Rams, it was for an eye-popping $160 million. Additionally, he earns about $5 million from brand endorsements and commercials.
Matthew Stafford’s Contract:
Matthew Stafford has a four-year deal with the Los Angeles Rams valued at $160 million. He makes approximately $40 million each year from this contract. When he signed, he got a $60 million signing bonus, and the total guaranteed amount of the contract is $130 million.
Matthew Stafford’s Family:
Matthew Stafford’s parents are John and Margaret Stafford, and he has a sister named Page. He was born in Tampa, Florida, but the family moved to Dallas, Texas, while he was in high school. Both of his parents supported his football journey, with his father, John, being involved in swimming during his college days at Florida State University before becoming a coach. Matthew inherited some of his athletic abilities from his father, and by high school, he was recognized as one of the top quarterbacks in the country.
Not much is known about Matthew’s mother, Margaret Stafford, but she has been a constant source of support throughout his career.
Matthew met his wife, Kelly Stafford, during college, where she was a cheerleader while he played quarterback for the University of Georgia. Kelly’s brother, Chandler Hall, is a coach for the Buffalo Bills. Kelly hosts a podcast called The Morning After. She has been a pillar of support for Matthew throughout his NFL career, especially during challenging times like her surgery to remove a brain tumor in 2019. Matthew took time off from playing for the Detroit Lions to be by her side during her recovery. The couple now has four daughters together.
Who is Matthew Stafford’s Wife, Kelly Hall?
Matthew Stafford and Kelly Stafford’s Love Story
Matthew Stafford, a Super Bowl-winning NFL quarterback, and Kelly Stafford, a podcaster, met during their time at the University of Georgia. They fell in love and got married in 2015.
Family Life
Since then, they’ve become parents to four daughters: twins Sawyer and Chandler, as well as Hunter and Tyler. Kelly and their daughters are Matthew’s biggest supporters and are often seen cheering him on at football games.
Gratitude for Family
Matthew has expressed his gratitude for his family’s support, acknowledging that he wouldn’t be where he is without them. Kelly has also shared similar sentiments, calling Matthew her “rock” and expressing appreciation for his reliability and comfort in their lives.
Matthew Stafford’s and Kelly Stafford’s Kids:
Stafford and Kelly have four daughters: twins Chandler and Sawyer, Hunter Hope, and Tyler Hall. Sawyer and Chandler will turn five in March, Hunter is three, and Tyler will be two in June. Stafford loves being a father to his daughters and has learned patience from raising them. While Stafford doesn’t use social media, Kelly frequently posts family photos on her Instagram account.