History of Matthew Stafford in Timeline
John Matthew Stafford is a professional football quarterback currently playing for the Los Angeles Rams. Drafted first overall by the Detroit Lions in 2009 after a college career with the Georgia Bulldogs, Stafford has achieved significant milestones in the NFL. He ranks among the top ten in pass attempts, completions, yards, and touchdowns. Notably, he holds the record for being the fastest player to reach 40,000 career passing yards and ranks highly in passing yards per game.
1950: Comeback Wins
On November 20, Matthew Stafford became the first quarterback since at least 1950 to win back to back games after trailing by at least 20 points, the first to win three games in a season after trailing by at least 17 points, and the first to win four games in a season after trailing by at least 13 points according to STATS, LLC.
1953: Previous Georgia Top Pick
In 1953, Harry Babcock was the previous player from Georgia to be the first overall selection in the draft.
1956: Lions Last Championship
In 1956, Matthew Stafford Led the Lions to 5-0, this was the first time the Lions had gone 5-0 since 1956, the year before they won their last NFL Championship.
1968: Last Rookie Start
In 1968, Greg Landry was the first Lions rookie quarterback to start in Week 1.
1982: Rival Wins
In 1982 was the first time that Georgia had defeated all three rivals in the same season.
February 7, 1988: Matthew Stafford's Birth
On February 7, 1988, John Matthew Stafford was born. He is now a professional football quarterback in the NFL.
1998: Quincy Carter Start
In 1998, Quincy Carter started for the Georgia Bulldogs football team.
1999: Playoff Appearance
In 1999, The Detroit Lions had a playoff appearance.
2002: Best Mark Since 2002
In 2002, Georgia had their best mark since the 2002 season.
2005: UIL 4A Division I State Championship
In 2005, Matthew Stafford led his team to a perfect 15-0 record and won the UIL 4A Division I State Championship. He also received numerous accolades, including being named to the Parade All-America Team and the USA Today Pre-Season Super 25.
2006: Collegiate Debut
In 2006, Matthew Stafford debuted late in the season opener against Western Kentucky, going 3 of 5 passing for 40 yards and a touchdown pass. He made his first collegiate start against University of Alabama Birmingham.
2006: High School Ranking
In 2006, Matthew Stafford was considered one of the best high school quarterbacks in the United States.
2006: Top Recruit
In 2006, Matthew Stafford was listed as the No. 1 pro-style quarterback prospect in the class by Rivals.com.
2007: Season Opener Win
In 2007, the Lions had their first season opener win since 2007.
April 2008: Potential Top Pick
In April 2008, several NFL analysts predicted that Matthew Stafford would be the No. 1 pick in the 2009 NFL draft if he chose to leave school early.
2008: Sugar Bowl victory
In 2008, Matthew Stafford had 175 yards passing and a touchdown pass during Georgia's 41–10 rout of the No. 10 Hawaii Warriors in the 2008 Sugar Bowl. He helped lead Georgia to an 11-2 record, their best mark since the 2002 season.
2008: Preseason Heisman List
In 2008, Matthew Stafford was chosen to Athlon Sports' preseason Heisman Favorites Others To Watch list. Georgia was ranked No. 1 in both the preseason coaches poll and the AP Poll.
April 24, 2009: Contract Agreement with Lions
On April 24, 2009, Matthew Stafford agreed to record contract terms with the Detroit Lions to become the first overall pick of the 2009 NFL draft, one day before the draft was held. The six-year contract reportedly contained $41.7 million in guaranteed money and carried a total value of up to $78 million.
September 6, 2009: Starting Quarterback Announcement
On September 6, 2009, Lions head coach Jim Schwartz announced that Matthew Stafford would be the Lions' starting quarterback heading into the season.
November 22, 2009: Five Touchdowns
On November 22, 2009, Matthew Stafford threw five touchdowns in a narrow victory over the Cleveland Browns, becoming the youngest quarterback ever to do so. He also accumulated 422 yards passing and won NFC Offensive Player of the Week and Pepsi Rookie of the Week.
2009: Teammates with Dominic Raiola
From 2009, Matthew Stafford was teammates with Dominic Raiola, the father of Dylan Raiola, on the Lions.
2009: Drafted into NFL
In 2009, Matthew Stafford was drafted first overall by the Detroit Lions in the NFL draft after playing college football for the Georgia Bulldogs.
2009: Capital One Bowl MVP
In 2009, after defeating Michigan State 24-12 and winning the MVP of the 2009 Capital One Bowl, Matthew Stafford finished his three years at Georgia with a 3-0 record in bowl games. Stafford chose to forgo his senior season and entered the 2009 NFL Draft.
2009: NFC Offensive Player of the Week
Matthew Stafford won NFC Offensive Player of the Week for the first time since the 2009 season after his Rams debut against the Chicago Bears.
2009: Lions' Primary Starter
Starting in 2009, Matthew Stafford became the primary starter for the Detroit Lions.
July 30, 2010: Guaranteed Money Record
On July 30, 2010, Sam Bradford signed a deal with $50 million guaranteed, surpassing Stafford's record for the most guaranteed money.
2010: Shoulder Surgery
In 2010, Matthew Stafford had surgery on his right throwing shoulder, ending his season.
2011: Breakout Year
In 2011, Matthew Stafford had a breakout year, becoming the fourth quarterback in NFL history to throw for over 5,000 yards in a single season and leading the Detroit Lions to their first playoff appearance since 1999.
January 1, 2012: Stafford throws for 5,000 yards
On January 1, 2012, Matthew Stafford became the fourth quarterback in NFL history to throw for 5,000 passing yards in a season, and the second-youngest to reach that milestone at 23 years old. This occurred after recording a career-high 520 passing yards against the Green Bay Packers. Stafford also had an interception on an attempted 37-yard touchdown pass, and became the first player in Lions' franchise history to have two games in a single season with at least five passing touchdowns.
July 7, 2013: Stafford agrees to a three-year extension with the Lions
On July 7, 2013, Matthew Stafford agreed to a three-year, $53 million contract extension with the Lions, including $41.5 million guaranteed through 2017.
January 14, 2014: Lions announce Jim Caldwell as their new head coach
On January 14, 2014, the Lions announced Jim Caldwell as their new head coach.
2014: Pro Bowl Honors
In 2014, Matthew Stafford led the Lions to another playoff run and earned Pro Bowl honors.
2014: Teammates with Dominic Raiola
Until 2014, Matthew Stafford was teammates with Dominic Raiola, the father of Dylan Raiola, on the Lions.
January 4, 2015: Stafford and the Lions face the Dallas Cowboys in the Wild Card Round
On January 4, 2015, Matthew Stafford and the Lions played against the Dallas Cowboys in the Wild Card Round of the playoffs. After leading 20-7 in the third quarter, the Cowboys scored 17 unanswered points to win 24-20. Stafford threw for 323 passing yards, one touchdown, and one interception in the loss. A controversial pass interference call reversal in the fourth quarter proved crucial.
January 19, 2015: Stafford selected to the 2015 Pro Bowl
On January 19, 2015, Matthew Stafford was selected to the 2015 Pro Bowl as a replacement for Peyton Manning. He was named Pro Bowl Offensive MVP, with 316 passing yards, two touchdowns, and one interception.
April 4, 2015: Stafford Marriage to Kelly Hall
On April 4, 2015, Matthew Stafford married Kelly Hall, the sister of former NFL player Chad Hall.
December 13, 2015: Stafford reaches 25,000 passing yards in his 90th career game
On December 13, 2015, in Week 14 against the St. Louis Rams, Matthew Stafford reached 25,000 passing yards in his 90th career game, becoming the fastest quarterback to reach this milestone.
2015: Donation to S.A.Y. Detroit Play Center
In 2015, Matthew Stafford donated $1 million to the S.A.Y. Detroit Play Center.
December 11, 2016: Stafford breaks NFL record of most fourth quarter comebacks
On December 11, 2016, Matthew Stafford broke Peyton Manning's NFL record of most fourth quarter comebacks in a season with eight. Since his debut in 2009, he has 25 such victories, the most in the NFL.
2016: NFL Season Record
In 2016, Matthew Stafford led the Lions to another playoff run and set the NFL season record for comeback wins.
2016: Rushing Touchdown
In 2016, Matthew Stafford scored a rushing touchdown for the first time since 2016 during the Wild Card Round of the playoffs against the Arizona Cardinals.
August 28, 2017: Stafford signs a five-year extension with the Lions
On August 28, 2017, Matthew Stafford signed a five-year, $135 million extension with $92 million guaranteed, making him the highest-paid player in NFL history at the time.
2018: Lions' Walter Payton Man of the Year Nominee
In 2018, Matthew Stafford was nominated as the Detroit Lions' Walter Payton Man of the Year.
April 2019: Kelly Stafford Reveals Brain Tumor Diagnosis
In April 2019, Kelly Stafford announced on Instagram that she had been diagnosed with a brain tumor.
April 17, 2019: Kelly Stafford's Brain Tumor Surgery
On April 17, 2019, Kelly Stafford underwent a 12-hour surgery to remove a brain tumor.
October 27, 2019: Lions lose to the Chiefs
On October 27, 2019, the Lions lost to the Chiefs. This game marked the Lions' last win until week 3 of the following season.
November 10, 2019: Stafford misses first game since 2010
On November 10, 2019, Matthew Stafford missed his first game since 2010 against the Chicago Bears, ending his streak of 136 consecutive regular-season starts. He was diagnosed with non-displaced fractures in his upper thoracic spine.
December 18, 2019: Stafford placed on injured reserve
On December 18, 2019, Matthew Stafford was placed on injured reserve after missing the previous six games. The Lions missed the playoffs for the third consecutive season. Stafford passed for 2,499 yards, 19 touchdowns, and five interceptions in eight games before his shutdown.
November 4, 2020: Stafford Placed on Reserve/COVID-19 List
On November 4, 2020, Matthew Stafford was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list after being a high-risk close contact with a non-team person who tested positive for COVID-19.
November 7, 2020: Stafford Removed from COVID-19 List
On November 7, 2020, Matthew Stafford was removed from the COVID-19 list after testing negative for the virus, clearing him to play in the Lions' Week 9 game against the Minnesota Vikings.
2020: End of Lions Career
In 2020, Matthew Stafford and the Detroit Lions mutually agreed to part ways.
2020: Stafford's 2020 Season
In the 2020 season, Matthew Stafford started all 16 games, finishing with 4,084 passing yards, 26 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. He also had to leave a game due to an ankle injury.
2020: Donation to University of Georgia
Prior to the 2020 NFL season, the Stafford family donated $1.5 million to the University of Georgia to fund social justice initiatives and scholarships.
March 18, 2021: Stafford Traded to the Rams
On March 18, 2021, Matthew Stafford was traded to the Los Angeles Rams. The trade involved Jared Goff, a 2021 third-round pick, and two first-round picks in 2022 and 2023.
2021: Donation for Educational Center in Detroit
Around 2021, the Stafford family donated $1 million to fund an educational center in Detroit.
2021: Trade to Rams
In 2021, Matthew Stafford was traded to the Los Angeles Rams and led them to victory in Super Bowl LVI.
March 19, 2022: Stafford Signs Extension with Rams
On March 19, 2022, Matthew Stafford signed a four-year, $160 million contract extension with the Los Angeles Rams.
December 5, 2022: Stafford Placed on Injured Reserve
On December 5, 2022, Matthew Stafford was placed on injured reserve due to a spinal cord contusion, ending his season.
2022: NFL Top 100 Players of 2022
In 2022, Matthew Stafford was ranked 27th by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2022.
2022: Speculations about retirement due to injury
In 2022, Matthew Stafford's injuries led to speculations that he might retire.
2022: First-round pick traded to Lions
In 2022, as part of the trade from the Lions to the Rams, a first-round pick was traded to the Lions.
2023: Appearance in Quarterback Series
During the 2023 NFL season, Matthew Stafford agreed to appear in the second season of the Netflix streaming series "Quarterback".
2023: Stafford Returns as Starting Quarterback
In 2023, Matthew Stafford returned as the Rams' starting quarterback after speculation that he might retire due to injuries sustained in 2022.
2023: First-round pick traded to Lions
In 2023, as part of the trade from the Lions to the Rams, a first-round pick was traded to the Lions.
2024: 2024 NFL season
During the 2024 NFL season, Matthew Stafford threw for 3,762 yards, 20 touchdowns, and eight interceptions, helping the Rams reach the playoffs.
2024: Dylan Raiola Football Recruit
In 2024, Dylan Raiola, the godson of Matthew Stafford, was the top football recruit and is the starting quarterback for the Nebraska Cornhuskers.
2024: NFL Top 100 Players of 2024
In 2024, Matthew Stafford was ranked 42nd by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players list.
February 28, 2025: Stafford Agrees to Restructured Contract
On February 28, 2025, Matthew Stafford agreed to a restructured contract with the Los Angeles Rams after considering offers from other teams.
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