Jarrett Stidham

Jarrett Ryan Stidham (born August 8, 1996) is an American football quarterback for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL).

He played college football at Auburn University following a stint with Baylor University.

Stidham selected the number 4 as his jersey number, making him the first Patriots player since placekicker Adam Vinatieri in 2005 to wear the number.

He was also the first Patriots quarterback to use number 4.

In Week 3 against the New York Jets, Stidham relieved Brady in the fourth quarter while the Patriots held a 30–7 lead.

He completed two out of three passes before throwing an interception to safety Jamal Adams that was returned for a touchdown.

Following the interception, Brady returned to finish the game, which the Patriots won 30–14.

Stidham entered his true freshman year at Baylor in 2015 as the backup to Seth Russell.

Stidham appeared in the first seven games, completing 24 of 28 passes for 331 yards and six touchdowns.

After Russell suffered a season-ending neck injury during Baylor's seventh game, Stidham took over as the starter.

He started his first career game against Kansas State.

He finished the game completing 23 of 33 passes for 419 yards, three passing touchdowns and a rushing touchdown.

In his second career start against Oklahoma, Stidham injured his back in the first quarter, but he was able to remain in the game.

He finished the game completing 16 of 27 for 257 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions in the 44–34 loss.

The following week, despite being questionable to play leading up to the game, Stidham made his third career start against Oklahoma State.

He injured his hand and ankle in the first half of the game and did not return to the field for the second half.

On November 25, 2015, Baylor head coach Art Briles announced that Stidham's ankle injury was a chipped bone in the back of his ankle and Stidham would be sidelined for the remainder of the regular season.

It was reported that Stidham might be able to return for Baylor's bowl game, but on December 19, Briles announced Stidham would miss the 2015 Russell Athletic Bowl.

In the wake of a sexual abuse scandal at the school, which led to the firing and resignation of much of the coaching staff, and general dissatisfaction backing up quarterback Seth Russell, on July 7, 2016, Stidham announced he would be transferring from Baylor.

After spending a semester at McLennan Community College, where he did not play football, Stidham announced that he would be transferring to Auburn University.

He made the announcement via his Twitter account on December 10, 2016.

On August 14, Stidham was named as Auburn's starting quarterback for the 2017 season.

Stidham led the Tigers to an SEC West Division Championship after victories over top-ranked Georgia and Alabama.

He would later lose to UCF in the Peach Bowl.

On December 4, 2018, Stidham announced that he would forgo his final year of eligibility and declare for the 2019 NFL draft.

Stidham was selected by the New England Patriots in the fourth round of the 2019 NFL draft, where he spent three seasons, and later played for the Las Vegas Raiders.

He joined the Broncos in 2023.

Stidham attended Stephenville High School in Stephenville, Texas.

As a senior, he completed 183 of 260 passes for 2,934 yards with 35 touchdowns.

He also rushed for 969 yards and 15 touchdowns.

Stidham was rated by Rivals.com as a four-star recruit and was ranked as the sixth-best dual-threat quarterback in his class.

Stidham originally committed to Texas Tech University to play college football, but later changed to Baylor University.

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 deal worth $3.15 million, including a signing bonus of about $634,000.

At the end of the Patriots' 2019 training camp, Stidham was named the second-string backup to quarterback Tom Brady.

After Brady left the Patriots in March 2020, Stidham was seen as his potential successor for the 2020 season.

However, the Patriots signed former MVP Cam Newton in July, who became the frontrunner to replace Brady.

Newton was announced as the season's starting quarterback on September 3, while Stidham became the third-string quarterback behind Newton and second-string backup Brian Hoyer.

Stidham moved up the depth chart when Newton tested positive for COVID-19 amid Week 4, serving as the second option behind Hoyer against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Following an ineffective performance from Hoyer, Stidham was brought in during the third quarter to complete the game.