Jarrett Stidham

Denver Broncos quarterback who started in the 2025 AFC Championship Game.

via Wikipedia: Jarrett Stidham · see source

Jarrett Ryan Stidham (born August 8, 1996) is an American professional football quarterback for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Auburn Tigers following a stint with the Baylor Bears. Stidham was selected by the New England Patriots in the fourth round of the 2019 NFL draft, where he spent his first three seasons as a backup. He played his next season for the Las Vegas Raiders, becoming the team's starter near the end of the year. Stidham joined the Broncos in 2023 and was their starter in the 2025 AFC Championship Game following an injury to Bo Nix.

Quick Facts

Current team: Denver Broncos
Position: Quarterback
Born: 8 August 1996
Birthplace: Corbin, Kentucky, U.S.
High school: Stephenville (Stephenville, Texas)
College: Baylor (2015), Auburn (2017–2018)
Draft year: 2019
Draft round: 4

Lore & Background

Stidham was born in Corbin, Kentucky, and moved to Stephenville, Texas in elementary school. At Stephenville High School, he completed 183 of 260 passes for 2,934 yards with 35 touchdowns and rushed for 969 yards and 15 touchdowns as a senior. He was rated a four-star recruit and the sixth-best dual-threat quarterback by Rivals.com. He originally committed to Texas Tech but later changed to Baylor. At Baylor, he started as a true freshman after injuries to Seth Russell, but a chipped bone in his ankle ended his season. He transferred to Auburn after a sexual abuse scandal at Baylor and dissatisfaction backing up Russell. At Auburn, he led the Tigers to an SEC West Division Championship in 2017 and declared for the 2019 NFL draft on December 4, 2018, before winning MVP of the 2018 Music City Bowl on December 28.

Reader's Guide

Stidham was drafted by the New England Patriots in the fourth round (133rd overall) of the 2019 NFL draft. He was the second-string backup to Tom Brady in 2019. In 2020, after Brady left, he was initially seen as a successor but became third-string behind Cam Newton and Brian Hoyer. He made relief appearances and threw his first career touchdown pass. In 2021, he began on the reserve/physically unable to perform list after back surgery and did not play. He was traded to the Las Vegas Raiders on May 13, 2022, and was named starter for the final two games of the 2022 season, making his first NFL start on December 28, 2022. He signed with the Denver Broncos on March 13, 2023, and started the final two games of the 2023 season, earning his first career win. In 2024, he was the primary backup to Bo Nix and did not attempt a pass. On March 10, 2025, he signed a two-year, $12 million extension. In the 2025 season, his only play was a kneel in Week 8. After Nix's injury in the Divisional Round, Stidham started the AFC Championship Game, completing 17 of 31 passes for 133 yards, a touchdown, and an interception, with a lost fumble, as the Broncos lost 10–7.