NFL Playoffs: Jarrett Stidham’s journey from backup quarterback to Super Bowl brink

Two months after New England won its sixth and final Super Bowl title in 2019, Stidham was selected in the fourth round of the draft.

He was Brady’s backup in his 20th and final season with the Patriots, before coach Bill Belichick signed Cam Newton in 2020, putting Stidham in a quarterback competition with the former Most Valuable Player.

Newton prevailed, though Stidham made a number of relief appearances while the veteran struggled, so the Patriots made Mac Jones their next potential successor to Brady with a first-round draft pick in 2021.

Stidham subsequently underwent back surgery and after not playing at all in 2021, was traded to the Las Vegas Raiders in 2022, starting his first two NFL games at the end of that season.

Stidham moved again in 2023 to Denver and remained a reserve, so after seven seasons in the NFL, the 29-year-old has played in 20 games, with just four starts.

But there’s clearly something New England likes. Josh McDaniels was the Patriots’ offensive coordinator during Stidham’s three years in Foxboro and shortly after taking over as head coach of the Raiders, he brought on Stidham.

Then, after McDaniels returned to the Patriots under new coach Mike Vrabel in the offseason, they considered re-signing Stidham to become Drake May’s backup.

During his NFL career, Stidham completed 117 of 197 passes (59.4%), threw eight touchdown passes and eight interceptions.

“I think he sees things really well,” added Vrabel, who won three Super Bowls as a Patriots player.

“I think he’s athletic enough to stretch [plays]. Accuracy and decision-making – it’s really crucial in the games we’ve gone back and watched.”