NFL Player Profile: Matthew Stafford

NFL Player Profile: Matthew Stafford

The native of Tampa, Florida was brought to the Los Angeles Rams on March 18, 2021 and he delivered. After being traded from the Detroit Lions to the Rams for Jared Goff, and three draft picks, all Stafford did this past season was win a Super Bowl.

2021 NFL Season

In 2021, Stafford completed 404 passes in 601 attempts for 4886 yards. He also had 41 touchdowns and 17 interceptions. Despite tying a career-high in touchdown passes, Stafford’s 17 interceptions led the National Football League, and his 404 pass completions and 4886 yards were Rams franchise records.

On the ground, he had 32 rushes for 43 yards. Stafford’s primary target was star wide receiver Cooper Kupp, who led the NFL in receptions (145), receiving yards (1947), touchdown catches (16), and yards per game (114.5). In the postseason, Stafford completed 98 passes in 140 attempts for 1188 yards, nine touchdowns and three interceptions.

Leading up to the NFL

Stafford played his college football at the University of Georgia. Interestingly, it was the same school his father attended. After three seasons with the Bulldogs where he passed for 7731 yards and 51 touchdowns from 2006 to 2008, Stafford was highly touted as a premier NFL prospect. Eventually, he was the first round pick, first overall, by the Lions in the 2009 NFL Draft.

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NFL Career

Stafford spent 12 seasons with the Lions from 2009 to 2020. He led the NFL in pass completions in 2012 with 435, and set the NFL record for most quarterback comebacks in a season (eight in 2016). Stafford was selected to the Pro Bowl in 2014. The following season in 2015, became the first player ever to complete 60% or more of his passes in every game during a single season.

In 13 NFL seasons with the Lions (2009 to 2020) and one season with the Rams, Stafford has completed 4302 passes in 6825 attempts for 49995 yards, 323 touchdown passes and 161 interceptions. He also has 377 rushes for 1241 yards and 14 touchdowns.

Stafford holds numerous Lions franchise records. They include career completions (3898), completions in a single season (435 in 2012), passing yards in a single season (727 in 2012), career passing yards (45109), passing yards in a game (520 in a 45-41 Lions loss to the Green Bay Packers), touchdown passes in a single season (41 in 2011), and career passing touchdowns (282).

Contract Extension

Stafford signed a contract extension with the Rams on March 19, 2022. It was for four years and worth $160 million.

2022 Los Angeles Rams

The Rams are projected to compete against the Arizona Cardinals for the NFC West Division title, and possibly the San Francisco 49ers too, who were the Rams’ opponent in the NFC Championship last season. The most significant acquisition for the Rams was wide receiver Allen Robinson, who will be catching balls from Stafford this year. Last season in Chicago, Robinson only played a partial season because of a hamstring injury.

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