Matthew Stafford life and biography

* Placed on Reserve/Injured by the Lions December 26, 2009.
* Drafted by the Detroit Lions in the first round (1st overall) of the 2009 NFL Draft.

PRO: As the Lions starting signal caller, Stafford combines great arm strength and accuracy with exceptional ability to read opponent’s defenses to lead the team’s offense.

* Rookie campaign was highlighted by his 13 touchdowns passes (Lions rookie passing record) and his gritty performance against Cleveland when he threw for an NFL record 422 yards and tied a league single-game rookie record with five touchdown passes.
* Selected by the Lions with the first overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft and was named the team’s starting quarterback to start the regular season. He was the youngest player to start the regular season at quarterback since drew Bledsoe in 1993.

2010: Enters his second year and as the team’s starting quarterback. Named an offensive team captain.

* Started and played the first two quarters of the season opener at Chicago (9/12) before getting hit near the end of the half, forcing him out of the game with a shoulder injury. Finished with 11 of 15 completions for 83 yards.
* Inactive vs. Philadelphia (9/19), at Minnesota (9/26), at Green Bay (10/3) and vs. St. Louis (10/10).
* Listed as third quarterback at the New York Giants (10/17).
* Returned as starting quarterback in 37-25 win against Washington (10/31) after missing previous five games due to shoulder injury. Threw four touchdown passes, including game-winning touchdown to Calvin Johnson with 3:12 to take 28-25 lead. Threw for 212 yards on 25 completions, and finished with a 90.2 passer rating. It marked Stafford’s second career fourth-quarter come-from-behind win.
* His 4 touchdown passes are the second-highest single game tally of his career. He joins QB Bobby Layne (4), QB Gary Danielson (2), QB Eric Hipple (2) and QB Scott Mitchell (2) as the only passers in team history with at least two games of 4 touchdown passes, and Stafford is the first player in team history to do it twice in his first two years with the club.
* Stafford became the first Lions’ quarterback to throw four touchdowns in a game which all four touchdowns gave the Lions the lead.
* In the second half vs. the Redskins, Stafford was 18-of-27 (66.7 pct) for 140 yards and threw for 3 touchdowns. His quarterback rating was 116.3, the highest tally in a second half of a game during his career.
* Completed 20-of-36 passes for 240 yards and threw for two touchdowns vs. the New York Jets, and he finished with a passer rating of 94.7. With a 90.2 passer rating vs. Washington (10/31), it marked the first time in his two-year career he has registered passer ratings of 90.0 in back-to-back games. Also ran for third career rushing touchdown. Left game in fourth quarter due to shoulder injury.
* Inactive (right shoulder) at Buffalo (11/14), at Dallas (11/21), against New England (11/25) and against Chicago (12/5).

2009: Completed 201-of-377 passes (53.3) for 2,267 yards during his rookie campaign. His 13 touchdown passes is a Lions’ rookie passing record. Was one of four rookie starters (TE Brandon Pettigrew, S Louis Delmas and DT Sammie Hill) in season opener. It was the first time Detroit has had four rookie starters on opening day since 1978 when DB Luther Bradley, DE Al Baker, T William Fifer and G Homer Elias made their starting debut). First Lions rookie quarterback to start the season since QB Greg Landry in 1968. Was named NFC Offensive Player of the Week (Week 11) and voted Pepsi Rookie of the Week (Week 11) for his efforts in Lions 38-37 win vs. Cleveland (11/22).

* Made his first career start in the season opener at New Orleans (9/13). Completed 16-of-37 passes for 205 yards and ran in for a 1-yard touchdown.
* Stafford (21 years, 218 days old) was the youngest quarterback to start a season opener since QB Drew Bledsoe (21 years, 203 days old) started for the New England Patriots in the 1993 season opener.
* Connected on his first career passing touchdown on a 8-yard pass to WR Calvin Johnson vs. Minnesota (9/20). Completed 18-of-30 passes for 152 yards.
* Completed 21-of-36 passes for 241 yards and a touchdown for a passer rating of 87.8 vs. Washington (9/27). Engineered three scoring drives (two TDs and one FG).
* Connected on 24-of-36 passes for 296 yards, a touchdown and an interception for a quarterback passer rating of 89.6 at Chicago (10/4).
* Stafford’s 221 passing yards in the first half at Chicago (10/4) were the most by a Lions passer since QB Jon Kinta garnered 314 yards in the first half at Philadelphia (9/23/07). Since 1995, Stafford’s 221 passing yards in the first half was the fourth highest tally by a Lions passer in the past 15 seasons.
* Inactive-third quarterback vs. Pittsburgh (10/11) and at Green Bay (10/18) due to knee injury.
* Returned to the starting line-up vs. St. Louis (11/1) and completed 14 of 33 passes for 168 yards. Also scored on a 4-yard rushing touchdown for his second rushing score of the year. Stafford has either thrown or run for a touchdown in all five games he has started this year.
* Connected on 22 of 42 passing attempts for 203 yards and two touchdowns at Seattle (11/8). Set career high with two touchdown passes, including a 7-yard pass to TE Brandon Pettigrew and a 29-yard pass to WR Bryant Johnson.
* Reached career highs for both attempts (51) and completions (29) for 224 yards and no interceptions at Minnesota (11/15) and passed for his sixth career touchdown on an 8-yard strike to TE Will Heller.
* Had a record-setting game vs. Cleveland (11/22) in which he completed 26 of 43 passes for a career-high and NFL Rookie Record (previous was Arizona QB Matt Lienart, 405 yards 11/26/06) 422 yards and tied the NFL Rookie Record with five passing touchdowns (tied with Chicago QB Ray Buivid 12/5/37).
* His 422 yards are the third-highest Lions’ single-game total and are the most yards thrown for by a Lions’ quarterback in a win.
* Stafford became just the second rookie in NFL history to throw for five touchdowns in a game and shattered the Lions’ previous rookie-high of two. His five touchdowns were thrown to five different receivers.
* At 21 years, 288 days old, Stafford was the youngest player in NFL history to pass for five touchdowns in a game. Buivid accomplished the feat at 22 years, 112 days old.
* The five touchdowns also tied for the most by a Lions quarterback in team history (Gary Danielson vs. Minnesota 12/9/78).
* Stafford completed a 75-yard touchdown to Calvin Johnson to set a career-long play. After injuring his shoulder at the end of the game, Stafford returned for the game’s final play, connecting on a 1-yard touchdown strike to fellow rookie TE Brandon Pettigrew on an untimed down (following a defensive pass interference penalty) for the game-winning score.
* Against the Browns, he led the Lions to a 38-37 win after overcoming three different deficits (21, 3 and 6 points). It was his first career fourth quarter comeback win.
* Stafford’s 112.7 passer rating against the Browns was the fourth highest single-game passer rating (highest by rookie quarterback) with over 40 pass attempts since 1970.
* Completed 20 of 43 passes for 213 yards and a touchdown vs. Green Bay (11/26).
* His 54-yard touchdown pass to WR Calvin Johnson at Cincinnati (12/6) was his 13th on the season, setting the Lions’ rookie passing record for TDs (Joey Harington, 12 in 2002).
* With the touchdown pass to Johnson against the Bengals, Stafford has thrown or rushed for a touchdown in each of his 10 starts this season. He has also registered touchdown passes in each of the past five games.

COLLEGE:
As the first overall selection in the 2009 NFL Draft, Stafford closed out his three-year career at Georgia ranking third on the school's all-time record list for yards passing (7,731), pass attempts (987), completed passes (564), touchdown passes (51), touchdowns responsible for (57), and yards in total offense (7,944). In 34 starting assignments, he compiled a 27-7 record (.794). Stafford enjoyed his most successful collegiate season in 2008 starting in all 13 games and completed 235-of-383 passes (both fourth on the school season-record list) for 3,459 yards (second-best season total by a Bulldog passer), compiling a .6136 pass completion percentage. He also set the Bulldog season-record with 25 touchdown tosses and 10 interceptions and averaged 9.03 yards per pass attempt, the third-best season total in Georgia history. His passing efficiency rating of 153.54 is the second-best annual mark in school annals. Also ran for 40 yards and a score on 55 carries (0.7 avg). On 423 plays, he amassed a school season-record 3,499 yards in total offense (269.15 yards per game), along with being responsible for 26 touchdowns (third on the Georgia season-record list). Known for his impressive arm strength, Stafford displays the compact and quick delivery that allows him to get the ball off on time. He is the classic drop-back quarterback, possessing the proper depth and footwork dropping back from center to efficiently scan the field and locate his open targets.

2008: Started all thirteen games, as the Capital One Bowl MVP completed 235-of-383 passes (both fourth on the school season-record list) for 3,459 yards (second-best season total by a Bulldog passer), compiling a .6136 pass completion percentage. Set the Bulldog season-record with 25 touchdown tosses and 10 interceptions. Averaged 9.03 yards per pass attempt, the third-best season total in Georgia history. His passing efficiency rating of 153.54 is the second-best annual mark in school annals. Also ran for 40 yards and a score on 55 carries (0.7 avg). On 423 plays, he amassed a school season-record 3,499 yards in total offense (269.15 yards per game), along with being responsible for 26 touchdowns (third on the Georgia season-record list).

* Earned All-Southeastern Conference second-team honors from the league's coaches and Associated Press.
* Named one of ten finalists for the Manning Award and one of thirteen semi-finalists for the Davey O'Brien Award.
* Earned the team's Vince Dooley Most Valuable Player of the Year Award and received SEC Academic Honor Roll distinction for the fall semester.

2007: Stafford started every game, compiling an 11-2 record. Completed 194-of-348 passes (55.75%) for 2,523 yards, 19 touchdowns and ten interceptions. Carried 39 times for losses totaling 18 yards, but also scored twice on the ground. Averaged 192.69 yards per game on 387 total plays for 2,505 yards.

* The recipient of the Dr. and Mrs. Howard Williams, II, Football Scholarship.
* The team ranked 74th in the nation with an average of 375.62 yards per game, but Stafford proved to be an opportunist, as the Bulldogs placed 34th in scoring (32.62 points per game).
* The quarterback boasted a 7-1 record in the eight games that he threw for at least 200 yards.

2006: Became the first quarterback to start for Georgia right out of high school since Eriz Zeier in 1991. Completed 135-of-256 passes (52.73%) for 1,749 yards, as he had seven touchdowns and 13 interceptions. Scored three times and gained 191 yards on 47 carries (4.1 avg). Participated in 303 plays, compiling 1,940 yards in total offense (149.23 yards per game).

* Graduated from high school early and enrolled at UGA in January. Appeared in thirteen games, compiling a 6-2 record after taking over as the team's starter in the final eight contests.
* Selected to the Freshman All-Southeastern Conference team by the league's coaches, twice earning SEC Freshman of the Week honors.
* Recipient of the Dr. and Mrs. Howard Williams, ILL, Football Scholarship.
* Named the team's Offensive Newcomer of the Year.

PERSONAL and HIGH SCHOOL:
Born John Matthew Stafford on February 7, 1988. Attended Highland Park (Dallas, Tex.) High School, playing football for head coach Randy Allen.

* Parade, Super Prep and USA Today All-American selection.
* Rated as the best prep passer in the country by Rivals.com and ranked second nationally by both Scout.com and ESPN.
* Added Prep Star Top 100 honors, as that recruiting service ranked him third in the country at his position.
* Three-time All-State selection, adding Gatorade Player of the Year, EA Sports National Player of the Year and Dallas Morning News Area Offensive Player of the Year accolades as a senior.
* Received a five-star prospect rating from both Scout.com and Rivals.com.
* Chosen Class AAAA Player of the Year by Dave Campbells Texas Football.
* Named Class AAAA "Mr. Texas Football" from TexasFootball.com.
* As a senior, Stafford threw for 4,018 yards on 209 of 322 passing and 38 touchdowns, as he led his team to the Class AAAA championship, its first title since1957. Also rushed for 212 yards and eight touchdowns on 42 carries.
* In the first round of the 2005 state playoffs, he rallied .his team from a 17-0 deficit to win 38-31 with 411 yards passing and four touch-downs.
* Named the Most Outstanding Player of the Tom Landry Classic.
* Student Sports All-American and All-District choice after his final season.
* Upon graduation, he was invited to play in the U.S. Army All-American Game and to the EA Sports Elite 11 Camp for the nation's top quarterbacks.
* During his junior year, Stafford threw for 1,748 yards and 18 touchdowns, as he was named to the Rivals.com Junior All-American Team.
* As a sophomore, he had 2,945 yards and 36 touchdown passes.
* Was a Speech Communications major at Georgia
* Sister, Page, is a student at the University of Georgia.

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