Former Patriots Quarterback Could Make NFL History In AFC Championship Game Amid Bo Nix Injury
The Patriots selected the signal-caller in the 2019 NFL Draft
Denver Broncos backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham hasn’t thrown a pass in an NFL game in over two years.
The former New England Patriots signal-caller will have a chance to do something that hasn’t been done in 33 years when the Broncos host the winner of Sunday’s playoff game between the Patriots and Houston Texans next week in the AFC Championship Game though.
“Only one QB since 1950 made his first start of the season in the playoffs and won: Frank Reich, in the epic 1992 wild-card overtime comeback against the Oilers. Next weekend, Broncos QB Jarrett Stidham will try to become the second,” ProFootballTalk posted on Bluesky.
Stidham is slated to be under center for Denver in next weekend’s AFC title game following starter Bo Nix’s season-ending ankle injury that he suffered during the Broncos’ divisional round win vs. the Buffalo Bills on Saturday night.
The Patriots selected Stidham in the fourth round of the 2019 NFL Draft and he went just 2-for-4 with 14 passing yards across three games as a rookie behind Tom Brady.
New England brought in Cam Newton ahead of the 2020 campaign and Stidham finished that year 22-for-44 with 256 passing yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions over five contests.
The former Auburn star began the 2021 season on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list due to a back injury and didn’t appear in any games that year.
Stidham was traded to the Las Vegas Raiders in May 2022 and served as Derek Carr’s backup that season, appearing in five games and making two starts. Stidham signed with the Broncos in March 2023 and has played just four games (making no pass attempts) in each of the last two seasons.
According to ESPN senior NFL writer Kalyn Kahler, there have only been six quarterbacks since 1950 to have their first start of a season come during the playoffs. Furthermore, Stidham will become just the second signal-caller ever to make his first start of an NFL campaign in the conference championship game or later, per Kahler.
