NFL Player Profile: Matthew Stafford
NFL Player Profile: Matthew Stafford
The Tampa, Fla. native was signed to the Los Angeles Rams on March 18, 2021 and delivered. After being traded from the Detroit Lions to the Rams for Jared Goff and three draft picks, Stafford won just one Super Bowl last season.
NFL season 2021
In 2021, Stafford completed 404 passes in 601 attempts for 4,886 yards. He also had 41 touchdowns and 17 interceptions. Despite a career-high in touchdown passes, Stafford led the National Football League with 17 interceptions, and his 404 completions and 4,886 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), yards (1,947), touchdown catches (16), and yards per game (114.5). In the postseason, Stafford completed 98 passes in 140 attempts for 1,188 yards, nine touchdowns and three interceptions.
Until 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, streaking for 7,731 yards and 51 touchdowns from 2006-08, Stafford was hailed as a top-flight NFL prospect. After all, he was the first overall pick by the Lions in the 2009 NFL draft.
NFL career
Stafford spent 12 seasons with the Lions from 2009 to 2020. He led the NFL in 2012 with 435 pass completions 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, he became the first player to complete 60% or more of his passes in every game in a single season.
In 13 NFL seasons with the Lions (2009-2020) and one season with the Rams, Stafford completed 4,302 passes in 6,825 attempts for 49,995 yards, 323 touchdown passes and 161 interceptions. He also has 377 rushes for 1,241 yards and 14 touchdowns.
Stafford holds numerous Lions franchise records. These include career completions (3,898), completions in a single season (435 in 2012), passing yards in a single season (727 in 2012), career passing yards (45,109), 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 ran for four years and was valued at $160 million.
2022 Los Angeles Rams
The Rams are expected to face the Arizona Cardinals for the NFC West Division title, and possibly the San Francisco 49ers, who were the Rams’ opponent in the NFC Championship last season. The key acquisition for the Rams was wide receiver Allen Robinson, who will catch balls from Stafford this year. Last season in Chicago, Robinson only played a part-season due to a hamstring injury.