Jarrett Stidham Steps Into the Spotlight: Patriots Prepare for a Familiar Face in AFC Championship
FOXBORO - When Jarrett Stidham lines up under center in Sunday’s AFC Championship Game, it won’t just mark his first meaningful pass attempt since Week 18 of the 2023 season - it’ll be the biggest moment of his career to date. And while the national spotlight might be new, the New England Patriots know exactly who they’re dealing with.
Zak Kuhr, New England’s interim defensive coordinator, isn’t buying into the narrative that Stidham’s lack of recent reps makes him an easier target. In fact, he sees a quarterback who’s been waiting for the right moment, not one who’s struggled to earn it.
“He’s very capable of being a starting quarterback,” Kuhr said Thursday. “He could be the starter for a number of teams.
Very talented, athletic, smart. He can run better than most people think.
Strong arm, very accurate.”
That’s not just coach-speak. Kuhr and the Patriots are taking this challenge seriously - not because of what Stidham hasn’t done, but because of what he can do. And with a trip to the Super Bowl on the line, no one in Foxboro is underestimating the 29-year-old.
Stidham’s NFL journey has been anything but linear. Drafted by the Patriots in the fourth round back in 2019, he spent his early years as a backup behind Tom Brady and Cam Newton.
Then came a stint with the Raiders under Josh McDaniels, before landing in Denver in 2023. The Broncos brought him back last offseason on a two-year, $12 million deal - a solid investment to back up rookie Bo Nix.
But fate had other plans. Nix went down with a broken ankle in the final moments of Denver’s gritty divisional-round win over Buffalo, and just like that, Stidham was back in the mix.
His only snap this season? A kneeldown in Week 8.
Now, he’s starting in the AFC title game.
This will be just the fifth start of Stidham’s career - and his first in the postseason. But for those who’ve worked with him closely, there’s no doubt he’s ready for the moment.
Josh McDaniels, now New England’s offensive coordinator, knows Stidham as well as anyone in the building. He coached him in New England and again in Las Vegas, and his praise was as personal as it was professional.
“Smart. Accurate.
Great human being,” McDaniels said. “Worked hard, great teammate, just hadn’t had the opportunities based on the situations.
But I just enjoyed working with him, and I’m sure he’ll be ready to go this week, for sure.”
Only six players on the Patriots’ current roster were teammates with Stidham during his Foxboro days, but the coaching familiarity - especially with McDaniels - adds a unique wrinkle to Sunday’s matchup. New England knows what Stidham brings to the table, and they’re not sleeping on him.
The Patriots’ defense has been battle-tested all season, but this is a different kind of assignment. Stidham might not have the playoff pedigree, but he’s got the tools. And with a Super Bowl berth hanging in the balance, the margin for error is razor-thin.
Expect New England to throw a variety of looks at him - pressure packages, disguised coverages, the works. But don’t expect them to overlook him.
Stidham may be stepping into the fire, but he’s not walking in blind. And if he delivers, it won’t be a fluke.
It’ll be the moment he’s been quietly preparing for all along.