In the world of football, backup quarterbacks have often found themselves in the spotlight, stepping in for injured starters and leading their teams to Super Bowl victories. Following the season-ending injury to starter Bo Nix during the divisional round against the Bills, Jarrett Stidham, the backup quarterback for the Broncos, is now set to take the reins in the AFC Championship game. With only four starts in his six-year NFL career, Stidham”s emergence comes at a critical time for the Broncos” Super Bowl aspirations.
Historically, several quarterbacks have successfully transitioned from backup to Super Bowl hero. One of the earliest examples is Earl Morrall, who stepped up in 1968 when Johnny Unitas sustained an arm injury. Morrall not only secured the starting position but also led the Colts to a remarkable 13-1 record and received the MVP award. However, in Super Bowl III, he was replaced by Unitas, and the Colts ultimately fell to the Jets.
In a notable comeback, Morrall returned to lead the Colts in Super Bowl V after Unitas was sidelined with a rib injury. Despite the team”s seven turnovers, Morrall orchestrated two fourth-quarter scoring drives to clinch a 16-13 victory over the Cowboys.
Doug Williams offers another compelling narrative of resilience. After a rocky start with the Bucs and a brief stint in the USFL, he joined Washington as a backup to Jay Schroeder. Williams stepped in due to injury and ineffectiveness during the 1987 season, leading Washington to a 5-2 record and two playoff wins. He made history as the first African American quarterback to start and win a Super Bowl, dominating the Broncos with a 42-10 victory in Super Bowl XXII.
Jim Plunkett is unique in that he achieved Super Bowl success twice as a backup. After moving through various teams, he took over for the injured Dan Pastorini during the 1980 season, leading the Raiders to nine wins in 11 starts and a Super Bowl victory over the Eagles, earning MVP honors. He repeated this success in 1983 after Marc Wilson was injured, guiding the Raiders to another Super Bowl win against Washington.
Jeff Hostetler took over for an injured Phil Simms in 1990 and led the Giants to five straight victories, culminating in a narrow win against the Bills in Super Bowl XXV. Similarly, Kurt Warner transformed his fortunes from stocking shelves in a grocery store to leading the Rams to a Super Bowl after taking over for an injured Trent Green in 1999, ultimately winning Super Bowl XXXIV against the Titans.
Trent Dilfer also made his mark when he replaced Tony Banks for the Ravens during the 2000 season. His leadership helped Baltimore secure a Super Bowl win against the Giants. Likewise, Tom Brady emerged as a legend after stepping in for an injured Drew Bledsoe in 2001, leading the Patriots to their first Super Bowl victory.
Most recently, Nick Foles captured the hearts of fans when he guided the Eagles to a Super Bowl triumph over the Patriots following Carson Wentz”s injury during a stellar season. Such stories highlight how backup quarterbacks have risen to the occasion, raising the question of whether Stidham can add his name to this illustrious list.
