.jpg) Stidham with theNew England Patriots in 2019 | |||||||||||||||
| No. 8 – Denver Broncos | |||||||||||||||
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| Position | Quarterback | ||||||||||||||
| Roster status | Active | ||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||
| Born | (1996-08-08)August 8, 1996 (age 29) Corbin, Kentucky, U.S. | ||||||||||||||
| Height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | ||||||||||||||
| Weight | 215 lb (98 kg) | ||||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||||
| High school | Stephenville(Stephenville, Texas) | ||||||||||||||
| College | |||||||||||||||
| NFL draft | 2019: 4th round, 133rd overall pick | ||||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||||
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| Awards and highlights | |||||||||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics as of 2024 | |||||||||||||||
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Jarrett Ryan Stidham (born August 8, 1996) is an American professionalfootballquarterback for theDenver Broncos of theNational Football League (NFL). He playedcollege football for theAuburn Tigers following a stint with theBaylor Bears. Stidham was selected by theNew England Patriots in the fourth round of the2019 NFL draft, where he spent his first three seasons as a backup, and played one season for theLas Vegas Raiders. He joined the Broncos in 2023.
Stidham was born on August 8, 1996, inCorbin, Kentucky.[1] His family moved toStephenville, Texas when he was in elementary school and he later attendedStephenville High School.[2] As a senior, he completed 183 of 260 passes for 2,934 yards with 35touchdowns. He also rushed for 969 yards and 15 touchdowns. Stidham was rated byRivals.com as a four-star recruit and was ranked as the sixth-bestdual-threat quarterback in his class. Stidham originally committed toTexas Tech University to playcollege football, but later changed toBaylor University.[3][4]
| Name | Hometown | School | Height | Weight | 40‡ | Commit date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jarrett Stidham QB | Stephenville, Texas | Stephenville HS | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 185 lb (84 kg) | 4.74 | Dec 19, 2014 |
Recruit ratings:Scout:  Rivals:  247Sports: ESPN: | ||||||
| Overall recruit ranking: Scout: 11 (QB) Rivals: 6 (QB) ESPN: 2 (Dual-threat QB) | ||||||
Sources:
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Stidham entered his true freshman year atBaylor in 2015 as the backup quarterback toSeth Russell. Stidham appeared in the first seven games, completing 24 of 28 passes for 331 yards and six touchdowns.[5] After Russell suffered a season-ending neck injury during Baylor's seventh game, Stidham took over as the starter.[6][7] He started his first career game against theKansas State Wildcats.[8][9] He finished the game completing 23 of 33 passes for 419 yards, three passing touchdowns and a rushing touchdown. In his second career start against theOklahoma Sooners, Stidham injured his back in the first quarter, but he was able to remain in the game. He finished the game completing 16 of 27 for 257 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions in the 44–34 loss.[10]
The following week, despite being questionable to play leading up to the game, Stidham made his third career start against theOklahoma State Cowboys. He injured his hand and ankle in the first half of the game and did not return to the field for the second half.[11] On November 25, 2015, Baylor head coachArt Briles announced that Stidham's ankle injury was a chipped bone in the back of his ankle and Stidham would be sidelined for the remainder of the regular season.[12] It was reported that Stidham might be able to return for Baylor's bowl game, but on December 19, Briles announced Stidham would miss the2015 Russell Athletic Bowl.[13][14]
In the wake of asexual abuse scandal at the school, which led to the firing and resignation of much of the coaching staff, and general dissatisfaction backing up Russell, on July 7, 2016, Stidham announced he would be transferring from Baylor.[15]
After spending a semester atMcLennan Community College, where he did not play football, Stidham announced that he would be transferring toAuburn University. He made the announcement via his Twitter account on December 10, 2016.[16] On August 14, Stidham was named asAuburn's starting quarterback for the 2017 season.[17] Stidham led the Tigers to an SEC West Division Championship after victories over top-ranked theGeorgia Bulldogs and theAlabama Crimson Tide.[18] He and the Tigers would later lose to theUCF Knights in the2018 Peach Bowl.[19] On December 4, 2018, Stidham announced that he would forgo his final year of eligibility and declare for the2019 NFL draft.[20]
| Season | Team | Passing | Rushing | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cmp | Att | Pct | Yds | Y/A | TD | Int | Rtg | Att | Yds | Avg | TD | ||
| 2015 | Baylor | 75 | 109 | 68.8 | 1,265 | 11.6 | 12 | 2 | 199.0 | 36 | 70 | 1.9 | 2 |
| 2017 | Auburn | 246 | 370 | 66.5 | 3,158 | 8.5 | 18 | 6 | 151.0 | 103 | 153 | 1.5 | 4 |
| 2018 | Auburn | 224 | 369 | 60.7 | 2,794 | 7.6 | 18 | 5 | 137.7 | 72 | 1 | 0.0 | 3 |
| Career | 545 | 848 | 64.3 | 7,217 | 8.5 | 48 | 13 | 151.4 | 211 | 224 | 1.1 | 9 | |
| Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | 20-yard shuttle | Three-cone drill | Vertical jump | Broad jump | Wonderlic | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 ft2+3⁄8 in (1.89 m) | 218 lb (99 kg) | 32 in (0.81 m) | 9+1⁄8 in (0.23 m) | 4.81 s | 1.71 s | 2.83 s | 4.33 s | 7.28 s | 31.0 in (0.79 m) | 9 ft 2 in (2.79 m) | 27 | |
| All values fromNFL Combine[21][22] | ||||||||||||
Stidham was selected by theNew England Patriots with the 133rd overall pick, in the fourth round, of the2019 NFL draft.[23] He signed a four-year deal worth $3.15 million, including a signing bonus of about $634,000.[24]
At the end of the Patriots' 2019 training camp, Stidham was named the second-string backup to quarterbackTom Brady.[25] Stidham selected the number 4 as his jersey number, making him the first Patriots player since placekickerAdam Vinatieri in 2005 to wear the number. He was also the first Patriots quarterback to use number 4.[26]
In Week 3 against theNew York Jets, Stidham relieved Brady in the fourth quarter while the Patriots held a 30–7 lead. He completed two out of three passes before throwing an interception to safetyJamal Adams that was returned for a touchdown. Following the interception, Brady returned to finish the game, which the Patriots won 30–14.[27]
After Brady left the Patriots in March 2020, Stidham was seen as his potential successor for the 2020 season.[28][29][30][31] However, the Patriots signed formerMVPCam Newton in July, who became the frontrunner to replace Brady.[32][33][34] Newton was announced as the season's starting quarterback on September 3,[35] while Stidham became the third-string quarterback behind Newton and second-string backupBrian Hoyer.[36]
Stidham moved up the depth chart when Newton tested positive forCOVID-19 amid Week 4, serving as the second option behind Hoyer against theKansas City Chiefs. Following an ineffective performance from Hoyer, Stidham was brought in during the third quarter to complete the game. He threw his first career touchdown pass toN'Keal Harry, but was also intercepted twice, including one that was returned for a touchdown by safetyTyrann Mathieu, as the Patriots lost 26–10.[37] Stidham was subsequently promoted to the second option ahead of Hoyer.[38]
Although Newton remained the team's starter for rest of the season, Stidham made relief appearances in Week 7 against theSan Francisco 49ers, Week 13 against theLos Angeles Chargers, and Week 14 against theLos Angeles Rams. The Week 13 appearance occurred in a 45–0 shutout of the Chargers,[39] while the Week 7 and Week 14 games saw Stidham take over for a struggling Newton amid a 33–6 defeat in the former and a 24–3 defeat in the latter. Despite Stidham replacing Newton in the blowout losses, Patriots head coachBill Belichick stated after both games that Newton would retain his starting position.[40][41] Stidham's final relief appearance came in Week 16 after an ineffective performance from Newton against theBuffalo Bills. Entering in the third quarter, Stidham also struggled during the eventual 38–9 loss. He completed four of 11 passes for 44 yards and converted three first downs, one of which resulted from a penalty.[42]
Following off-season back surgery,[43] Stidham began the 2021 season on the team's reservephysically unable to perform list.[44] He was activated on November 9, ahead of the Week 10 matchup with theCleveland Browns.[45] Stidham was named the third-string quarterback behind rookieMac Jones andBrian Hoyer, ultimately not taking the field for the entire year.[46]
On May 13, 2022, Stidham was traded along with a seventh-round pick in the2023 NFL draft, to theLas Vegas Raiders for a 2023 sixth-round pick.[47] The trade reunited Stidham with Raiders head coachJosh McDaniels, who was the Patriots' offensive coordinator during his three seasons with the team.[48] He was named the second option to starting quarterbackDerek Carr on August 30 and was the only backup quarterback to make the initial 53-man roster.[49]
On December 28, 2022, with two regular season games remaining, Stidham was named the starter for the first time in his career after the Raiders benched Carr.[50] In his first NFL start, Stidham threw for 365 yards, three touchdowns, and two interceptions in the 37–34 overtime loss to the 49ers.[51]
On March 13, 2023, Stidham signed a two-year, $10 million contract with theDenver Broncos.[52] On December 27, 2023, the Broncos announced that Stidham would start the final two games of the season afterRussell Wilson was benched.[53]
On March 10, 2025, Stidham signed a two-year, $12 million extension with the Broncos with $7 million guaranteed.[54][55]
| Year | Team | Games | Passing | Rushing | Sacked | Fumbles | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Record | Cmp | Att | Pct | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Int | Rtg | Att | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Sck | SckY | Fum | Lost | ||
| 2019 | NE | 3 | 0 | — | 2 | 4 | 50.0 | 14 | 3.5 | 11 | 0 | 1 | 18.8 | 2 | −2 | −1.0 | −1 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| 2020 | NE | 5 | 0 | — | 22 | 44 | 50.0 | 256 | 5.8 | 38 | 2 | 3 | 54.7 | 7 | 7 | 1.0 | 6 | 0 | 4 | 21 | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 | NE | 0 | 0 | — | DNP | |||||||||||||||||
| 2022 | LV | 5 | 2 | 0–2 | 53 | 83 | 63.9 | 656 | 7.9 | 60 | 4 | 3 | 89.2 | 14 | 84 | 6.0 | 11 | 0 | 7 | 47 | 3 | 1 |
| 2023 | DEN | 3 | 2 | 1–1 | 40 | 66 | 60.6 | 496 | 7.5 | 54 | 2 | 1 | 87.7 | 9 | 8 | 0.9 | 4 | 0 | 7 | 46 | 1 | 0 |
| 2024 | DEN | 3 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 4 | 5 | 1.3 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Career | 19 | 4 | 1–3 | 117 | 197 | 59.4 | 1,422 | 7.2 | 60 | 8 | 8 | 78.3 | 36 | 102 | 2.8 | 11 | 0 | 19 | 121 | 4 | 1 | |
Stidham has been married to Kennedy Stidham (née Brown) since 2019.[56] They met as students at Baylor. Brown is the daughter ofHarris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment CEOTad Brown.[57] Their daughter was born in 2022.[56] They had another child together in 2025.[58]
