Jarrett Stidham

Jarrett Stidham's Biography

Jarrett Ryan Stidham is an American professional football quarterback presently contracted with the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). Born on August 8, 1996, in Corbin, Kentucky, Stidham moved to Stephenville, Texas, during his elementary school years. He demonstrated excellent football skills during his early years, which paved the way for him to play at the college level and professional leagues.

Stidham attended Stephenville High School, where his football prowess shone through. As a senior, he logged 183 of 260 passes for 2,934 yards and 35 touchdowns. He also rushed for 969 yards and 15 touchdowns. He became a four-star recruit and was ranked as the sixth best dual-threat quarterback in his class by Rivals.com. Initially, Stidham committed to playing college football for Texas Tech University. He later shifted his commitment to Baylor University.

Starting his college football career as the backup quarterback to Seth Russell at Baylor in 2015, Stidham soon got a chance to step into the spotlight. When Russell was sidelined with a season-ending neck injury, Stidham took over as the Baylor Bears’ main quarterback. Despite initial hurdles, he demonstrated strong performances, which greatly helped his personal growth and improved the team’s success rate.

In 2016, Stidham decided to transfer from Baylor amidst a scandal and general dissatisfaction within the team. He took a semester off at McLennan Community College and later transferred to Auburn University in 2017. Stidham was named Auburn’s starting quarterback for that season. He efficiently led the Tigers to an SEC West Division Championship with victories against high-ranking teams like Georgia Bulldogs and Alabama Crimson Tide.

As 2018 ended, Stidham made a critical decision to forgo his final year of eligibility and declare himself for the 2019 NFL draft. By this time, he had matured greatly as an athlete and was ready to test the waters at the professional level. The New England Patriots saw his potential and selected him with the 133rd overall pick in the fourth round. With this, Stidham started his professional NFL career.

Stidham spent his first three seasons with the Patriots. Despite his status as a backup under the then-Patriots’ mainstay Tom Brady, he managed to make an impact through occasional game appearances. When Brady departed from the Patriots’ roster in 2020, speculation arose about Stidham taking over, but the Patriots decided to sign former MVP Cam Newton instead. Nevertheless, Stidham remained with the Patriots and was given opportunities on several occasions to demonstrate his skills.

Towards the end of May 2022, he was traded to the Las Vegas Raiders along with a seventh-round pick in the 2023 NFL draft, in exchange for a 2023 sixth-round pick. Now under head coach Josh McDaniels, Stidham managed to garner attention once again with his performances.

After a successful stint with the Raiders, Stidham moved over to the Denver Broncos in 2023, signing a two-year contract worth $10 million. This represented a significant milestone in his career as he had evolved from a backup quarterback to a mainstay with his own team.

Stidham’s personal life is as fulfilling as his football career. He has been married to Kennedy Brown since 2019, whom he met during his college years at Baylor. Their daughter was born in 2022, completing their little family. Today, Stidham stands as an example of a committed athlete who has made a successful transition from his early years to a fulfilling professional career in the NFL.