John Matthew Stafford is an American professional football quarterback currently affiliated with the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). Having made his NFL debut in 2009, he has spent all his professional career with the Lions. A Florida native, Stafford spent parts of his childhood in Georgia and Texas. He studied at Highland Park High School where he received training from Randy Allen. After obtaining his high-school degree, he attended the University of Georgia. For his tenure as a member of the Georgia Bulldogs football team, he won several accolades, including being named All-America in 2008 by ‘Pro Football Weekly’ and MVP of the 2009 Capital One Bowl. A day before the 2008 NFL Draft, he signed a six-year, $41.7-million contract with the Lions. Since then, he has played 11 seasons with the team, receiving NFL Comeback Player of the Year accolade in 2011 and Pro-Bowl Offensive Most Valuable Player in 2014. In 2018, he was nominated for the Lions' Walter Payton Man of the Year award.
