2015 DETROIT LIONS MEDIA GUIDE

9 - MATTHEW STAFFORD
Quarterback Georgia Highland Park, Texas
Year: 7 Ht: 6-3 Wt: 226 Born: 2/7/88
Draft: ’09, R1 (1)-Det
Complete biographical information available on Detroitlions.com.
MANE FACTS
‣ ¾ Pro Bowl: 2013-14 Alternate, 2015
‣ ¾ 2011 Associated Press Comeback Player of the Year.
‣ ¾ Voted by fans the 2012 ESPY for Best Comeback Athlete.
‣ ¾ Voted by his teammates for the Chuck Hughes Most Improved Player Award in 2011.
‣ ¾ During the Lions’ dramatic 38-37 last second, come-from-behind win against Cleveland at Ford Field when he set NFL
rookie passing records for yards (422) and tied a record for touchdowns (five), Stafford was mic’d up by NFL Films for that
memorable win. Stafford suffered a shoulder injury on the last timed play of regulation. Following a pass interference
penalty in the end zone and a Browns timeout, Stafford forced himself back on the field for one more throw that resulted
in the game winning touchdown to TE Brandon Pettigrew. As published in the Detroit Free Press: NFL Films president
Steve Sabol said Stafford “earned a lasting place in the cinematic folklore of the NFL.” Stafford was wired for sound when
he suffered an AC joint separation, came back and threw the winning touchdown with no time left against the Browns.
Sabol called it “the most dramatic player wiring ever” -- and NFL Films has wired more than 350 players since 1965.
‣ ¾ Attended Highland Park High School in Dallas, Texas, the same high school that Lions Hall of Famers QB Bobby Layne
and RB Doak Walker attended. Layne and Walker led the Lions to NFL Championships in 1952 and 1953. Layne also
led the team to the 1957 NFL Championship.
TRANSACTIONS
‣ ¾ Re-signed by the Lions to a three-year extension on July 10, 2013.
‣ ¾ Placed on Reserve/Injured by the Lions December 24, 2010.
‣ ¾ Placed on Reserve/Injured by the Lions December 26, 2009.
‣ ¾ Drafted by the Detroit Lions in the first round (1st overall) of the 2009 NFL Draft.
FRANCHISE RECORDS AND NOTES
‣ ¾ 2014: Thus far, Stafford has led the Lions to 17 victories when trailing or tied in the fourth quarter or overtime. He has
six career game-winning touchdown passes with less than one minute to play in fourth quarter (franchise record) and
six after the two-minute warning.
‣ ¾ On Stafford’s 30-yard completion to WR Golden Tate in the second quarter at Arizona (11/16/14), he surpassed 20,000
career passing yards. By reaching 20,000 career passing yards in his 71st career game, he set a new NFL record reaching
that mark in the fewest career games (Courtesy Elias Sports Bureau). He broke the previous record set by Hall of Fame
QB Dan Marino who accomplished this feat in 74 career games.
‣ ¾ On his 59-yard touchdown pass to WR Golden Tate in the Lions’ 22-21 win over Atlanta in London (10/26/14), Stafford
set the franchise’s all-time career passing touchdowns record with his 119th career touchdown pass. He broke the 58-
year old record held by Hall of Fame QB Bobby Layne (118, 1950-58).
• Stafford broke the Lions career passing touchdowns record in his 69th career game. Layne threw for 118 touchdowns
in 97 career games with the Lions.
‣ ¾ With a start at Carolina (9/14/14), Stafford started in his 50th-straight game, becoming the first Lions quarterback in team
history to start 50-straight games. In 2013, he set the franchise record when he started in his 43rd-consecutive game.
‣ ¾ Stafford threw for 217 yards at Green Bay (12/28/14) and finished the 2014 season with 4,257 passing yards. In doing
so, he moved past QB Jon Kitna (4,208 in 2006) for fifth place in Lions history for the most passing yards in a season.
Among the top passers in team history, Stafford now holds four of the top five spots, including: 5,038 in 2011, 4,967 in
2012, 4,650 in 2013 and 4,257 in 2014.
‣ ¾ Stafford has the four highest seasons for pass attempts (727 in 2012, 663 in 2011, 634 in 2013 and 602 in 2014) in
team history.
‣ ¾ With 4,257 passing yards in 2014 Stafford joined QB Peyton Manning (5) and Hall of Fame QB Dan Marino (4) as the only
passers in NFL history with four 4,000-yard seasons in a passer’s first six years in the League.
‣ ¾ 2013: With three touchdowns vs. Green Bay (11/28/13), Stafford became the first passer in club history with 25+
touchdowns in two different seasons (41, 2011; 29, 2013)
‣ ¾ Stafford threw for 362 yards at Pittsburgh (11/17/13) and set the franchise record for career passing yards previously
set by Hall of Fame QB Bobby Layne (15,710). With 362 yards against the Steelers, he had passed for 16,005 yards
in 55 career games and broke the record on his 79-yard touchdown pass to WR Calvin Johnson in the second quarter.
• Stafford broke Layne’s record, which has stood for 55 seasons (1958), in only his 55th career game. Layne reached
15,710 yards in 97 career games.
• Stafford became the second player in Lions history to throw for 100 career touchdowns. He joined Layne (118) as the
only players in team history to record 100 career touchdown passes.
• Stafford reached 100 passing touchdowns in his 55th career game. Layne tossed his 100th touchdown with the Lions
in his 69th game with the club.
‣ ¾ With a start at Pittsburgh (11/17/13), Stafford set the franchise record for consecutive starts by a Lions quarterback
with 42, dating back to September 11, 2011. He broke a tie with QB Greg Landry (41) for the most consecutive starts
by a Lions QB in franchise history.
• He also set that same mark for consecutive starts including playoffs (43) by surpassing Landry (42).
‣ ¾ Stafford threw for 327 yards in the first half at Pittsburgh (11/17/13). His 327-yard first half set a franchise record for
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