Jarrett Stidham Bio
Jarrett Ryan Stidham is an American professional football quarterback for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). Born in Corbin, Kentucky, and raised in Stephenville, Texas, Stidham built his reputation as a dual-threat passer during his high school years before playing college football for the Baylor Bears and the Auburn Tigers. He was selected by the New England Patriots in the fourth round of the 2019 NFL draft, spent time with the Las Vegas Raiders, and joined the Broncos in 2023.
Across his college and professional career, Stidham has been recognized as a poised pocket leader with starting experience at both the collegiate and NFL levels. He earned SEC Newcomer of the Year and Second-team All-SEC honors in 2017, and he was named the Most Valuable Player of the 2018 Music City Bowl. As a professional, he has served as a backup, a spot starter, and a developing starter for three NFL franchises.
Early Life and Background
Jarrett Ryan Stidham was born on August 8, 1996, in Corbin, Kentucky. His family later moved to Stephenville, Texas, when he was in elementary school, and he went on to attend Stephenville High School. The move from Kentucky to Texas helped shape his early athletic identity, and he became a standout football player in a region known for producing quarterbacks.
As a senior at Stephenville High School, Stidham completed 183 of 260 passes for 2,934 yards and 35 touchdowns, while also rushing for 969 yards and 15 touchdowns. He was rated by Rivals.com as a four-star recruit and ranked as the sixth-best dual-threat quarterback in his recruiting class. Stidham originally committed to Texas Tech University before ultimately changing his commitment to Baylor University, where he began his college career.
Path to American Football
Stidham entered his true freshman year at Baylor in 2015 as the backup quarterback to Seth Russell. He appeared in the first seven games of the season, completing 24 of 28 passes for 331 yards and six touchdowns. After Russell suffered a season-ending neck injury in the seventh game, Stidham was promoted to starter and made his first career start against the Kansas State Wildcats, finishing with 419 passing yards, three passing touchdowns, and a rushing touchdown.
Stidham’s Baylor tenure was cut short after the 2015 season by a sexual abuse scandal at the school, which led to extensive coaching changes. He spent a semester at McLennan Community College without playing football, then announced his transfer to Auburn University via Twitter on December 10, 2016. On August 14, 2017, he was named Auburn’s starting quarterback, beginning the most decorated chapter of his college career.
Jarrett Stidham Career
Early Career (2015–2016)
During his lone active season at Baylor, Stidham showed poise as a young starter before a back injury and later a chipped bone in his ankle ended his year. He started games against Kansas State and Oklahoma before his injuries forced him to miss the remainder of the regular season and the 2015 Russell Athletic Bowl. Despite the setbacks, his early tape demonstrated the arm talent and mobility that made him a top recruit.
Stidham’s path to Auburn was shaped by his Baylor experience and the coaching turnover that followed the scandal. After sitting out a semester at McLennan Community College, he committed to Auburn and began preparing for a fresh start under a new staff. That reset laid the foundation for the breakout 2017 season that followed.
Auburn Tigers Breakthrough (2017–2018)
Stidham took over as Auburn’s starter in 2017 and quickly became one of the most productive newcomers in the Southeastern Conference. He earned SEC Newcomer of the Year and Second-team All-SEC recognition, while leading the Tigers to an SEC West Division Championship with notable victories over top-ranked Georgia and rival Alabama. His combination of efficient passing and timely runs gave Auburn a balanced offensive identity.
Stidham’s 2018 season ended with a trip to the 2018 Music City Bowl, where his play earned him the game’s Most Valuable Player award. Shortly after the bowl game, on December 4, 2018, he announced that he would forgo his final year of eligibility and declare for the 2019 NFL draft. His decision closed a college arc that began at Baylor, paused at McLennan, and peaked at Auburn.
New England Patriots Era (2019–2021)
Stidham was selected by the New England Patriots with the 133rd overall pick in the fourth round of the 2019 NFL draft. He signed a four-year rookie deal worth about $3.15 million, including a signing bonus of approximately $634,000, and entered 2019 training camp as the second-string backup behind Tom Brady. He chose jersey number 4, becoming the first Patriots player since placekicker Adam Vinatieri in 2005 to wear it, and the first quarterback in franchise history to do so.
Stidham’s most visible 2019 moment came in Week 3 against the New York Jets, when he relieved Brady in the fourth quarter of a 30–14 win. He completed two of three passes but also threw an interception returned for a touchdown by safety Jamal Adams. Following Brady’s departure in 2020, Stidham was briefly viewed as a potential successor before the Patriots signed Cam Newton, pushing Stidham to third on the depth chart. He saw spot duty that season, including a relief appearance against the Kansas City Chiefs in which he threw his first career touchdown pass to N’Keal Harry.
Stidham underwent off-season back surgery and began the 2021 season on the reserve physically unable to perform list. He was activated in November and spent the remainder of the year as the third-string quarterback behind rookie Mac Jones and Brian Hoyer, never taking the field. His three seasons in New England were spent primarily in a developmental role behind a string of veteran starters.
Las Vegas Raiders Era (2022)
On May 13, 2022, Stidham 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. The trade reunited him with Raiders head coach Josh McDaniels, his former offensive coordinator in New England. He was named the backup to Derek Carr and was the only backup quarterback to make the Raiders’ initial 53-man roster.
On December 28, 2022, with two regular-season games remaining, Stidham was named the Raiders’ starter after the team benched Carr. In his first NFL start against the San Francisco 49ers, he threw for 365 yards, three touchdowns, and two interceptions in a 37–34 overtime loss. The performance offered a glimpse of his starting potential heading into the next phase of his career.
Denver Broncos Era (2023–Present)
On March 13, 2023, Stidham signed a two-year, $10 million contract with the Denver Broncos. He spent most of the season as a backup before the Broncos announced on December 27, 2023, that he would start the final two games of the year after Russell Wilson was benched. The late-season start gave Stidham meaningful game action within Denver’s offensive system.
On March 10, 2025, Stidham signed a two-year, $12 million extension with the Broncos that included $7 million in guaranteed money. The deal reflected the organization’s continued investment in him as a key part of the quarterback room. His path from a fourth-round pick to a multi-year starter has been gradual, but his role with the Broncos has steadily grown.
Driving Style and Strengths
Stidham is a composed pocket passer with the mobility of a former dual-threat recruit. He operates well from the pocket, shows accuracy on intermediate routes, and can extend plays with his legs when structures break down. His experience in multiple offensive systems, from Baylor to Auburn to the Patriots and Raiders, has helped him adapt to different scheme demands in Denver.
Notable Events and Milestones
Key milestones in Stidham’s career include earning SEC Newcomer of the Year in 2017, being named the 2018 Music City Bowl MVP, and recording his first NFL start with the Raiders in 2022. His 365-yard passing performance against the 49ers in that debut remains one of the most productive first starts in his career. More recently, his two-year extension with the Broncos in March 2025 signaled his arrival as a long-term piece of Denver’s plans.
Jarrett Stidham Career Wins
Jarrett Stidham’s career wins span high school, college, and professional football, highlighted by team championships and individual awards rather than a large volume of NFL starts. His most celebrated team success came at Auburn, where he helped the Tigers to an SEC West Division Championship in 2017. His first NFL start produced a 365-yard, three-touchdown performance, and he has since become a regular starter for the Denver Broncos.
Auburn Tigers Highlights
Stidham’s top college win came in 2017, when he led Auburn to a victory over top-ranked Georgia en route to an SEC West Division title. He also played a central role in the team’s win over rival Alabama that same season. He was later named the Most Valuable Player of the 2018 Music City Bowl, capping his Auburn tenure with individual recognition.
Other Wins & Performances
Stidham’s most notable professional performance came in his first NFL start with the Las Vegas Raiders in 2022, when he passed for 365 yards and three touchdowns against the San Francisco 49ers. With the Broncos, he earned starts in the final games of the 2023 season after Russell Wilson was benched, and he returned as a starter following his 2025 extension. His body of work reflects a steady, late-blooming ascent at the NFL level.
Jarrett Stidham Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Stidham grew up in a family that moved from Corbin, Kentucky, to Stephenville, Texas, during his early childhood. His upbringing in Texas, a region with deep football traditions, supported his development as a high school standout. Public details about his parents and broader family have not been widely documented.
Personal Life
Stidham has been married to Kennedy Stidham, née Brown, since 2019. The couple met as students at Baylor University, and Kennedy is the daughter of Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment CEO Tad Brown. Their daughter was born in 2022, and the couple had another child together in 2025. The Stidhams have been based in Denver since Jarrett joined the Broncos in 2023.
2025 Season Performance
Stidham entered the 2025 NFL season as a key member of the Denver Broncos’ quarterback room following his two-year, $12 million extension signed in March. The deal, which included $7 million in guaranteed money, underscored the franchise’s confidence in his development. His continued presence on the active roster has provided stability behind the starting lineup.
Throughout the 2025 season, Stidham has combined game management with the arm talent and mobility that defined his college profile. His experience in multiple NFL offensive systems has translated into a smoother command of Denver’s scheme. Spot starts and relief appearances have allowed him to demonstrate growth as a passer and decision-maker.
Looking ahead, Stidham’s 2025 outlook remains tied to Denver’s larger quarterback plans and the development of younger options on the roster. His contract runs through 2027, giving the Broncos flexibility to evaluate his long-term fit. For now, he represents a steady, experienced presence within the team.