On Monday, Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton declared Jarrett Stidham as the starting quarterback for the remainder of the 2023 NFL season, while designating Russell Wilson as the backup.
Payton’s decision to bench Wilson for the final two games aimed at improving offense.
Stidham lived up to Payton’s expectations by securing his first NFL win in an impressive performance against the Los Angeles Chargers. The quarterback threw for 224 yards and a touchdown in his inaugural start as a Denver Bronco, completing 20-of-32 passes and achieving a noteworthy quarterback rating of 93.8.
Notably, Stidham was sacked only twice, played a key role in avoiding turnovers, and contributed significantly to the Broncos’ season-high yardage in the first half.
The elation extended beyond the field, as Kennedy Stidham, Jarrett’s wife, took to Instagram to express her pride.
Instagram stories captured moments of celebration, including the family leaving the stadium with a caption reading, “Now, time to celebrate.”
A private dinner with friends followed, where the Stidham family indulged in post-game festivities.
Kennedy shared a video from the intimate post-game party, featuring Jarrett raising a shot glass with the caption:
“Cheers to many things!!! But most of all this team fam.”
Jarrett Stidham and Kennedy Stidham (née Brown) tied the knot in 2019 after crossing paths as students at Baylor University.
Kennedy is the daughter of Tad Brown, the CEO of Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment.
In 2022, the couple welcomed their first child, a daughter.
The Stidhams revealed in October that they are expecting their second child, a baby boy.
Following the game,Jarrett Stidham, speaking to DenverBroncos.com, expressed gratitude for the victory against the Chargers.
“I just tried to play with emotion and get a win, and thankfully, we did,” he stated. While acknowledging areas for improvement, especially in the red zone, Stidham commended the defense and special teams for their stellar performances.
Coach Sean Payton echoed Stidham’s sentiments, praising the quarterback’s composure, poise, and efficiency during the game.
“I thought he was collected, calm. I thought he played with really good poise,” Payton remarked. “He felt experienced relative to a guy who hasn’t had as many minutes maybe as some others.”
Jarrett Stidham, drafted by the New England Patriots in 2019, initially served as Tom Brady’s backup. Despite limited playing time in his early years, he faced high expectations as a potential successor to Brady in 2020. However, the arrival of Cam Newton reshaped the quarterback hierarchy. Stidham saw sporadic action during the season, showcasing both promise and challenges.
In 2021, Stidham’s back surgery kept him sidelined initially, and he remained third-string behind Mac Jones and Brian Hoyer for the entire season.
A trade to the Las Vegas Raiders in 2022 reunited him with former Patriots coach Josh McDaniels. Stidham emerged as the second option to Derek Carr, eventually earning his first career start in late 2022.
Stidham inked a two-year deal worth $10 million with the Denver Broncos on March 13, 2023. Subsequently, on December 27, 2023, the Broncos revealed that Stidham would take the starting quarterback role for the last two games of the season following the benching of Russell Wilson.
