Lead
Jarrett Stidham, 29, is set to make his first NFL start since 2023 this Sunday when the Denver Broncos face the New England Patriots. The opposing sideline will include Josh McDaniels, who knows Stidham from multiple stops — as New England’s offensive coordinator in 2019 and later as Las Vegas Raiders head coach in 2022. McDaniels told reporters on Thursday he expects Stidham to be prepared for the assignment. The announcement underscores a reunion between coach and quarterback with a brief but intertwined professional history.
Key Takeaways
- Stidham will start for the Broncos on Sunday against the Patriots, his first start since 2023.
- Josh McDaniels coached Stidham twice: as New England’s offensive coordinator when the Patriots drafted him in the fourth round in 2019, and again when McDaniels was head coach of the Raiders in 2022.
- Stidham made the first two career starts under McDaniels in Las Vegas before signing with Denver in 2023.
- Career totals: 197 pass attempts, 59.4% completion rate, 1,422 yards, eight touchdowns and eight interceptions.
- McDaniels described Stidham as “smart” and “accurate” and said, “He’ll be ready to go this week, for sure,” at a Thursday press conference.
- Stidham is 29 years old and has primarily served as a backup through his NFL tenure.
- The game represents an unusual matchup of familiarity: a coach facing a former player he helped draft and later employ.
Background
Jarrett Stidham entered the NFL when the New England Patriots selected him in the fourth round of the 2019 draft while Josh McDaniels was the Patriots’ offensive coordinator. Stidham’s early career was shaped by limited opportunities behind established starters, a common path for mid-round quarterback picks seeking regular playing time. In 2022 McDaniels, then head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders, added Stidham to his roster as a backup; Stidham started two games for Las Vegas that season.
After the 2022 stint in Las Vegas, Stidham signed with the Broncos in 2023, where he again occupied a reserve role until this week’s expected start. The Broncos’ quarterback room has undergone churn over recent seasons as the team searches for consistency, creating short-term openings for veteran backups to step in. For McDaniels, the matchup is notable because it reconnects him with a player he drafted and later coached directly in game situations.
Main Event
The decision to start Stidham was confirmed ahead of Denver’s trip to New England, setting up a Sunday matchup that pairs him against a franchise and coach intimately familiar with his background. In a Thursday press conference, McDaniels was asked for his assessment of Stidham and responded with praise for the player’s preparation and character. McDaniels’ comments emphasized both personal regard and professional evaluation, saying Stidham is a dependable teammate who has not always had opportunities to play.
Stidham’s game-day preparation will be scrutinized given his limited career snaps: 197 pass attempts across parts of several seasons. Those numbers reflect modest in-game experience — 1,422 passing yards with an even eight touchdowns and eight interceptions — which places additional emphasis on situational game-planning and protection from Denver’s coaching staff. The Broncos’ offensive game plan for Sunday is expected to account for Stidham’s strengths — quick reads and accuracy on shorter throws — while sheltering him from unnecessary risk.
The matchup also carries subtext for New England. McDaniels’ knowledge of Stidham’s tendencies and coaching history could influence how the Patriots prepare defensively, but inside familiarity is not a guarantee of advantage. Both teams will weigh short-term competitive aims against longer-term roster evaluations, with scouts and front offices watching how Stidham performs under starter-level responsibility.
Analysis & Implications
For the Broncos, starting Stidham provides a low-cost test of quarterback depth and short-term continuity. If Stidham performs efficiently and limits turnovers, Denver can claim a practical stopgap while the club assesses longer-term options. Conversely, a poor outing would likely intensify scrutiny of the Broncos’ quarterback pipeline and could accelerate searches for more experienced alternatives.
From New England’s perspective, McDaniels faces the rare situation of opposing a player he helped draft and later coach. That history gives McDaniels added context when preparing his defense, but it also raises questions about how much game-film and situational knowledge translate into defensive advantage. Opposing coaches often know players well, yet execution on game day depends on adjustments, play-calling, and the performance of surrounding units.
Stidham’s career numbers (197 attempts, 59.4% completion) indicate a profile of limited but not unproductive experience. His even touchdown-to-interception ratio (8 TDs, 8 INTs) suggests mixed outcomes under pressure; coaches will emphasize ball security and quick decision-making to mitigate turnover risk. For Stidham personally, a solid showing could open further playing chances, while mistakes will likely relegate him to the bench and preserve his role as a veteran backup.
Comparison & Data
| Metric | Career |
|---|---|
| Pass attempts | 197 |
| Completion rate | 59.4% |
| Passing yards | 1,422 |
| Touchdowns | 8 |
| Interceptions | 8 |
These career totals reflect limited starting experience across multiple teams and seasons. Contextualizing these numbers matters: they come from spot starts and relief appearances rather than sustained starter snaps, so rate-based evaluation and recent practice reports will be critical to projection.
Reactions & Quotes
“Smart, accurate, great human being. Worked hard, great teammate. Just hadn’t had an opportunity, based on the situations and those kinds of things.”
Josh McDaniels, press conference (Thursday)
McDaniels framed his remarks to convey both professional assessment and personal respect, stressing that Stidham’s limited playing time reflected circumstance rather than a character deficit.
“He’ll be ready to go this week, for sure.”
Josh McDaniels, press conference (Thursday)
That short statement was presented to reporters as confirmation of McDaniels’ confidence in Stidham’s game readiness for Sunday’s matchup.
Unconfirmed
- Whether Stidham will retain the starting job beyond this single game is not confirmed and will depend on performance and team decisions.
- Specific details of Denver’s week-long practice plan and any playbook adjustments tailored to Stidham have not been publicly disclosed.
- There is no public confirmation that New England will alter its defensive scheme specifically because of McDaniels’ familiarity with Stidham beyond routine game planning.
Bottom Line
The upcoming Broncos-Patriots game is notable less for dramatic roster movement than for the reunion it represents: a coach and quarterback crossing paths again under NFL game conditions. McDaniels’ public endorsement frames Stidham as prepared and pro-ready, but the game will be the clearest indicator of whether that assessment holds up under live pressure.
For Denver, the contest is a practical evaluation of veteran depth and a chance to stabilize the quarterback spot temporarily. For Stidham, a measured, low-turnover performance could expand future opportunities; conversely, turnovers or inconsistent play would likely reassert his role as a backup. Observers should watch early down efficiency, turnover rate and how play-calling adapts to Stidham’s strengths when judging the broader implications.