.jpg) Wolford in 2020 | |||||||||||||||
| No. 5 – Minnesota Vikings | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Quarterback | ||||||||||||||
| Roster status | Active | ||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||
| Born | (1995-10-16)October 16, 1995 (age 30) Dallas, Texas, U.S. | ||||||||||||||
| Listed height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | ||||||||||||||
| Listed weight | 218 lb (99 kg) | ||||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||||
| High school | Bishop Kenny (Jacksonville, Florida) | ||||||||||||||
| College | Wake Forest (2014–2017) | ||||||||||||||
| NFL draft | 2018: undrafted | ||||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||||
* Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||||||||||||||
| Awards and highlights | |||||||||||||||
| Career NFL statistics as of 2025 | |||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
John Thomas Wolford[1] (born October 16, 1995) is an American professionalfootballquarterback for theMinnesota Vikings of theNational Football League (NFL). He playedcollege football for theWake Forest Demon Deacons and signed with theNew York Jets as anundrafted free agent in 2018. Wolford played for theLos Angeles Rams from 2019 to 2022, and has also played for theTampa Bay Buccaneers, theJacksonville Jaguars, and theArizona Hotshots of theAlliance of American Football.
Wolford was born inDallas, Texas, and moved to Jacksonville at an early age where he attendedBishop Kenny High School.[2][3] As a pro-stylequarterback, he was rated a three-star recruit byRivals.com[4] andESPN[5] and committed to playcollege football for theWake Forest Demon Deacons. He was briefly the all-time leader in all major statistical passing categories forhigh school football in the state of Florida.[citation needed]
Wolford started his college career as the first Wake Forest player to start all 12 games as atrue freshman, setting school records in attempts, passing yards,touchdowns, and completion percentage by a true freshman. He struggled at times, throwing 13interceptions in his first eight games, but showed improvement over the year, throwing only one interception in the final four. He finished eighth in theAtlantic Coast Conference (ACC) in passing yards per game at 169.8, ranking second among freshmen in the conference behind onlyMiami'sBrad Kaaya.
He had another strong year as a sophomore. In the first game of the season, he threw for a career-high 323 yards in a 41–3 win overElon; the next week, he threw for 373 yards in a 30–17 loss vs.Syracuse. His 696 passing yards in the first two games constituted the best start ever by a Wake Forest quarterback. As a junior, he started 11 of 13 games, missing one game due to injury.
As a senior, he had the most impressive season of his college career, earning second-team all-ACC honors and setting school records in single-seasonpasser rating, passing yards, touchdown passes, total offense yards, and touchdowns, as well as the school record in career touchdowns. In theBelk Bowl, he set school bowl game records in completions (32), attempts (49), passing yards (400), and touchdowns (4), becoming the firstFBS player since 2000 to pass for 400+ yards, rush for 65+ yards, and throw no interceptions in a bowl game.[2]
| Season | Team | Games | Passing | Rushing | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Record | Comp | Att | Pct | Yards | Avg | TD | Int | Rate | Att | Yards | Avg | TD | |||
| 2014 | Wake Forest | 12 | 12 | 3–9 | 214 | 367 | 58.3 | 2,037 | 5.6 | 12 | 14 | 108.1 | 104 | -151 | -1.5 | 0 | |
| 2015 | Wake Forest | 11 | 10 | 3–7 | 142 | 235 | 60.4 | 1,791 | 7.6 | 9 | 11 | 127.7 | 73 | 67 | 0.9 | 3 | |
| 2016 | Wake Forest | 12 | 11 | 6–5 | 166 | 299 | 55.5 | 1,774 | 5.9 | 9 | 10 | 108.6 | 130 | 521 | 4.0 | 6 | |
| 2017 | Wake Forest | 12 | 12 | 8–4 | 239 | 374 | 63.9 | 3,192 | 8.5 | 29 | 9 | 158.0 | 140 | 683 | 4.9 | 10 | |
| Career | 47 | 45 | 20−25 | 761 | 1,275 | 59.7 | 8,794 | 6.9 | 59 | 41 | 126.5 | 447 | 1,120 | 2.5 | 19 | ||
| 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 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 ft11+1⁄2 in (1.82 m) | 205 lb (93 kg) | 29+1⁄8 in (0.74 m) | 9+5⁄8 in (0.24 m) | 4.77 s | 1.70 s | 2.76 s | 4.18 s | 6.78 s | 31 in (0.79 m) | 9 ft 1 in (2.77 m) | ||
| All values from 2018 Wake ForestPro Day[6][7] | ||||||||||||
After going undrafted in the2018 NFL draft, Wolford signed as anundrafted free agent with theNew York Jets. He played in most of the preseason finale against thePhiladelphia Eagles, completing 8-of-20 pass attempts for 89 yards and an interception.[8][9] He was waived on September 2, 2018 and signed to thepractice squad the next day.[10] On September 4, he was released from the practice squad to make room for formerNew York Giants quarterbackDavis Webb.[11]
TheArizona Hotshots drafted Wolford with their second-round pick in the2019 AAF QB Draft. He entered the preseason competing with first-round pickTrevor Knight for the starting job; in the Hotshots' sole preseason game against theBirmingham Iron, Wolford completed 9-of-14 passes for 116 yards, a touchdown, and atwo-point conversion. He was named starter prior to the regular season.[12]
In the first game of the regular season, a 38–22 win over theSalt Lake Stallions, Wolford completed 18-of-29 passes for 275 yards, four touchdowns, and two two-point conversions; for his performance, he was named Week 1 AAF Offensive Player of the Week.[13][14] He earned a second Player of the Week award in Week 7, when he completed 15-of-19 passes for 212 yards, two touchdowns, one interception, and a 126.3 passer rating. He also ran for a 35-yard touchdown in a 32–15 victory against theSan Diego Fleet.[15]
On April 10, 2019, Wolford signed with theLos Angeles Rams of the NFL after the AAF suspended operations.[16] He was waived during final roster cuts on August 31,[17] but was signed the next day to the Rams' practice squad.[18] He signed a reserve/future contract with the Rams on December 31.
On December 28, 2020, following an injury to starterJared Goff in a Week 16 game against theSeattle Seahawks, Rams' coachSean McVay confirmed that Wolford would start the final game of the regular season against theArizona Cardinals.[19] Wolford would become the first quarterback since 2013 to make his first start with a team during Week 17 with a playoff berth on the line (Kyle Orton with theDallas Cowboys).[20] After throwing an interception to Cardinals' linebackerJordan Hicks on his first pass attempt of the game, Wolford quickly turned things around, completing 22-of-38 passes for 231 yards while also rushing six times for 56 yards; the Rams went on to beat the Cardinals 18–7 to clinch a playoff berth.[21] He became the first quarterback to pass for 200+ yards and rush for 50+ yards in an NFL debut.[22] Wolford started for the Rams in theWild Card playoff game at the Seahawks, but left in the first quarter with a neck injury after sustaining a shoulder-to-helmet hit from Seahawks' safetyJamal Adams.[23] He was taken to the hospital and was later released the same day.[24] Wolford completed 3-of-6 passes for 29 yards prior to leaving the game, which the Rams went on to win 30–20. The Rams would end their postseason in a loss to the Packers the following week.
In 2021, Wolford served as the backup for newly acquired quarterbackMatthew Stafford. Wolford also remained the backup during the Rams' playoff run, winningSuper Bowl LVI 23–20 where they defeated theCincinnati Bengals.[25]
On November 13, 2022, Wolford was named the starting quarterback for Week 10 against the Cardinals after Stafford was placed inconcussion protocol. Coincidentally, Cardinals' starting quarterbackKyler Murray also missed the game due to injury, withColt McCoy serving as the starter in a backup versus backup matchup.[26]
On May 9, 2023, Wolford signed with theTampa Bay Buccaneers.[27] He was released on August 29 and re-signed to the practice squad the following day.[28][29] Wolford was promoted to the active roster on October 31.[30]
Wolford re-signed with the Buccaneers on March 15, 2024.[31] He was released during final roster cuts on August 27.[32]
On December 3, 2024, Wolford signed with theJacksonville Jaguars' practice squad.[33] On February 17, 2025, Wolford was signed to the active roster.[34]
On August 25, Wolford was released by the Jaguars as part of final roster cuts.[35]
On October 29, 2025, theMinnesota Vikings signed Wolford to theirpractice squad, in need of an additional veteran quarterback to replaceCarson Wentz, who suffered what would eventually become a season-ending injury on October 5 against theCleveland Browns.[36] He was promoted to the active roster on December 6.[37]
| Legend | |
|---|---|
| Won theSuper Bowl | |
| Bold | Career high |
| Year | Team | Games | Passing | Rushing | Sacks | Fum | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Record | Cmp | Att | Pct | Yds | Y/A | Lng | TD | Int | Rtg | Att | Yds | Y/A | Lng | TD | Sck | Yds | |||
| 2019 | ARI | 8 | 7 | 5–2 | 130 | 205 | 63.4 | 1,616 | 7.9 | 64 | 14 | 7 | 96.3 | 36 | 160 | 4.4 | 35 | 1 | 14 | 88 | 1 |
| Career | 8 | 7 | 5–2 | 130 | 205 | 63.4 | 1,616 | 7.9 | 64 | 14 | 7 | 96.3 | 36 | 160 | 4.4 | 35 | 1 | 14 | 88 | 1 | |
| Year | Team | Games | Passing | Rushing | Sacks | Fumbles | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Record | Cmp | Att | Pct | Yds | Y/A | Lng | TD | Int | Rtg | Att | Yds | Y/A | Lng | TD | Sck | Yds | Fum | Lost | ||
| 2020 | LAR | 1 | 1 | 1–0 | 22 | 38 | 57.9 | 231 | 6.1 | 38 | 0 | 1 | 64.7 | 6 | 56 | 9.3 | 14 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 | LAR | 3 | 0 | — | 1 | 4 | 25.0 | 5 | 1.3 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0.0 | 2 | -1 | -0.5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| 2022 | LAR | 3 | 3 | 1–2 | 38 | 62 | 61.3 | 390 | 6.3 | 30 | 1 | 3 | 64.6 | 8 | 32 | 4.0 | 14 | 0 | 7 | 49 | 3 | 1 |
| 2023 | TB | 0 | 0 | — | DNP | |||||||||||||||||
| 2025 | MIN | 0 | 0 | — | DNP | |||||||||||||||||
| Career | 7 | 4 | 2–2 | 61 | 104 | 58.7 | 626 | 6.0 | 38 | 1 | 5 | 59.2 | 16 | 87 | 5.4 | 14 | 0 | 10 | 65 | 3 | 1 | |
| Year | Team | Games | Passing | Rushing | Sacks | Fumbles | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Record | Cmp | Att | Pct | Yds | Y/A | Lng | TD | Int | Rtg | Att | Yds | Y/A | Lng | TD | Sck | Yds | Fum | Lost | ||
| 2020 | LAR | 1 | 1 | 1–0 | 3 | 6 | 50.0 | 29 | 4.8 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 63.9 | 1 | 2 | 2.0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 | LAR | 0 | 0 | — | DNP | |||||||||||||||||
| 2023 | TB | 0 | 0 | — | DNP | |||||||||||||||||
| Career | 1 | 1 | 1–0 | 3 | 6 | 50.0 | 29 | 4.8 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 63.9 | 1 | 2 | 2.0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
Wolford's uncle,Will Wolford, was a three-timePro Bowloffensive tackle who played 13 seasons in the NFL.[38]
They were born in Dallas, back when I was training at Parkland Hospital, and their grandparents still live there.