The Los Angeles Rams' trade for and acquisition of quarterback Matthew Stafford is now official.
Here are five things to know about L.A.'s newest signal-caller:
1) Established a reputation for toughness early in his career
In Week 11 of Stafford's rookie season, the Lions were trailing the Browns 37-31. With eight seconds left in the fourth quarter, Stafford took the snap, scrambled, then heaved up a prayer from the Browns 39-yard line.
He successfully evaded the first two pass rushers, but after letting go of the ball, the third – 305-pound defensive tackle C.J. Mosley – landed on his left (non-throwing) shoulder, an injury that required him to be helped to the sideline.
At the same time, a pass interference penalty had been called against the Browns in the endzone, giving the Lions an untimed town – and one last play – from the Cleveland one-yard line. While be tending to by Lions athletic trainers on the sideline, he heard the Browns call timeout, giving him a chance to re-enter the game for that final play, though against the advice of the trainers.
Stafford then threw a game-winning touchdown pass to tight end Brandon Pettigrew to snap a six-game losing streak for the Lions.
2) Airing it out
Rams head coach Sean McVay has talked about creating more explosive plays being a priority for the upcoming season, and adding a quarterback with an arm like Stafford's is one way to do that.
Per the NFL's Next Gen Stats (NGS), Stafford tied with the Browns' Baker Mayfield and the Texans' Deshaun Watson for the sixth-highest average intended air yards in the league at 9. Stafford also tied with the Vikings' Kirk Cousins and the Cowboys' Dak Prescott for ninth-highest average completed air yards in the league at 6.8.
NGS says the air yards metric shows how far the ball is being thrown downfield – more specifically, it defines air yards as "the vertical yards on a pass attempt at the moment the ball is caught in relation to the line of scrimmage. Completed air yards shows the average Air Yards a passer throws on completions, and intended air yards shows the average Air Yards a passer throws on all attempts."
3) Social justice advocate
In early February, Stafford and his wife Kelly announced a $1 million pledge to kick off SAY Detroit's campaign to build a new annex on the grounds of the SAY Detroit Play Center at Lipke Park called "The Kelly and Matthew Stafford & Friends Education Center." Per a release from the organization, "the 20,000-square-foot facility will include six classrooms, learning labs, vocational training space and a theater/auditorium, allowing SAY Detroit to expand its services and house a growing and diverse range of programming for kids, teens and adults."
According to its website, SAY Detroit is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to improve "the lives of Detroit's neediest citizens through shelter, food, medical care, volunteer efforts and education."
Last August, he and Kelly donated $1.5 million to their alma mater, the University of Georgia, with $350,000 of those funds going toward starting a social justice program within the school and its athletic department and scholarships for students in need.
Additionally, Stafford was also part of a players' coalition while in Detroit that drove organizational and community social justice efforts, such as working with state officials for a virtual voter registration event last July that focused on spreading voter education and awareness.
Those efforts, along with other support provided during the COVID-19 pandemic, led to the couple being named Michiganians of the Year by The Detroit News.
Take a look back at Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford's 12 year career in the NFL before joining the Rams in 2021.
Georgia's Matthew Stafford, right, holds up a jersey with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, after the Detroit Lions selected Stafford as the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall Saturday, April 25, 2009, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) during NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, October 4, 2020 in Detroit, Michigan. (Alika Jenner/NFL)
Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) during NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, October 4, 2020 in Detroit, Michigan. (Alika Jenner/NFL)
Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) during an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday, October 18, 2020 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Perry Knotts/NFL)
Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) in action during an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, November 8, 2020 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Todd Rosenberg/NFL)
Detroit Lions' Jason Hanson (4) gets a hug from quarterback Matthew Stafford, right, after kicking a field goal in overtime of an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, Sept. 25, 2011, in Minneapolis. The Lions won 26-23. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) throws the ball during an NFL football game against the Houston Texans on Thursday, November 26, 2020 in Detroit, Michigan. (Ric Tapia/NFL)
Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford looks to pass against the Cleveland Browns in the fourth quarter of an NFL football in Detroit, Sunday, Nov. 22, 2009. Detroit won 38-37. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) drops back to pass during the NFL week 1 football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday, September 11, 2011 in Tampa, Florida. The Lions won the game 27-20. (AP Photo/Paul Spinelli)
Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) calls a play in the offensive huddle during the NFL wildcard playoff football game against the New Orleans Saints on Saturday, January 7, 2012 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Saints won the game 45-28. (AP Photo/Paul Spinelli)
Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) passes against the Chicago Bears during an NFL football game at Ford Field in Detroit, Sunday, Dec. 11, 2016. (AP Photo/Rick Osentoski)
Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) during the first half of an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions in Chicago, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2009. Chicago won 48-24. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) calls a play during an NFL game against the Denver Broncos on Sunday, Oct. 30, 2011, in Denver. The Lions won the game, 45-10. (AP Photo/Greg Trott)
Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) dives for a third quarter touchdown that cuts the New Orleans Saints lead to 24-21 while being chased by New Orleans Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan (94) during the NFL wildcard playoff football game against the New Orleans Saints on Saturday, January 7, 2012 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Saints won the game 45-28. (AP Photo/Paul Spinelli)
Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) throws during the first half of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, Dec. 2, 2018, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Rey Del Rio)
Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) looks to throw behind the protection of the offensive line against the Kansas City Chiefs in the second quarter of an NFL football game in Detroit, Sunday, Sept. 18, 2011. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) gets set to run a play against the Chicago Bears during an NFL football game at Ford Field in Detroit, Sunday, Dec. 11, 2016. (AP Photo/Rick Osentoski)
Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) warms up before the first quarter of an NFL football game in Detroit, Saturday, Dec. 24, 2011. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) passes the ball against the Green Bay Packers during an NFL football game at Ford Field in Detroit, Sunday, Sept. 21, 2014. (AP Photo/Rick Osentoski)
Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) and wide receiver Calvin Johnson (81) celebrate their touchdown against the Philadelphia Eagles during an NFL football game at Ford Field in Detroit, Thursday, Nov. 26, 2015. (AP Photo/Rick Osentoski)
Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) passes against the Tennessee Titans during an NFL football game, Sunday, Sep. 18, 2016 in Detroit. (Rick Osentoski via AP Images)
Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford celebrates a Calvin Johnson reception during a NFL football game in Detroit, Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2013. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) reacts in the second half of an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints in New Orleans, Sunday, Dec. 4, 2016. (AP Photo/Bill Feig)
Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) receives congratulations from running back Joique Bell (35) after scoring a touchdown against the Seattle Seahawks during an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2012. in Detroit. (AP Photo/Rick Osentoski)
Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) gets set to run a play against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during an NFL football game at Ford Field in Detroit, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2014. (AP Photo/Rick Osentoski)
Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) celebrates after throwing a touchdown pass to wide receiver Golden Tate (15) against the Dallas Cowboys during the first half of an NFL wildcard playoff football game, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2015, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt (99) of Team Carter and Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) of Team Irvin are named as Defensive and Offensive MVPs following the 2015 Pro Bowl game at University of Phoenix Stadium on Sunday, Jan. 25, 2015 in Glendale, Ariz. Team Irvin defeated Team Carter 32-28. (AP Photo/Perry Knotts)
Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) scores on a 1-yard touchdown run against the Dallas Cowboys in the fourth quarter of an NFL football game in Detroit, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2013. (AP Photo/Rick Osentoski)
Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) during player introductions before an NFL football game against the New York Giants at Ford Field in Detroit, Monday, Sept. 8, 2014. (AP Photo/Rick Osentoski)
Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) celebrates his touchdown run in the second half of an NFL football game against Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2012, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)
Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) reacts after scoring a touchdown against the Dallas Cowboys in the fourth quarter of an NFL football game in Detroit, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2013. (AP Photo/Rick Osentoski)
Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) passes the ball as guard Rob Sims (67) blocks Buffalo Bills defensive end Chris Kelsay (90) during the first quarter of an NFL preseason football game in Detroit, Thursday, Aug. 30, 2012. (AP Photo/Rick Osentoski)
Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford is seen on the sidelines before an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons at Ford Field in Detroit, Saturday, Dec. 22, 2012. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) throws the ball during an NFL football NFC wild card playoff game against the Seattle Seahawks on Saturday, Jan. 7, 2017, in Seattle. Seattle won 26-6. (Peter Read Miller via AP)
Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) is interviewed after winning the Galloping Gobbler Award after an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Thursday, Nov. 26, 2015, in Detroit. The Lions defeated the Eagles 45-14. (AP Photo/Rick Osentoski)
Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) passes during an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, October 27, 2013, at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan. The Lions defeated the Cowboys, 31-30. (AP Photo/James D. Smith)
Detroit Lions' Matthew Stafford reacts after rushing for a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers Sunday, Dec. 9, 2012, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)
Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) rushes against the Washington Redskins during an NFL football game at Ford Field in Detroit, Sunday, Oct. 23, 2016. (AP Photo/Rick Osentoski)
Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) drops back to pass against the Denver Broncos during an NFL football game at Ford Field in Detroit, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2015. (AP Photo/Rick Osentoski)
Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) calls out the signals at the line of scrimmage during the first half of an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Jacksonville, Fla., Sunday, Nov. 4, 2012. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) drops back to pass against the New York Giants during an NFL football game at Ford Field in Detroit, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2013. (AP Photo/Rick Osentoski)
4) Clutch
According to Pro-Football-Reference.com, Stafford has 38 game-winning drives in his career, tied with the Falcons' Matt Ryan for fourth-most among active players.
That total is also tied with Ryan and former Colts quarterback Johnny Unitas for eighth-most all-time.
Additionally, Stafford's 31 fourth-quarter comebacks since 2009 are most in the NFL, while his 38 game-winning drives since 2009 are second-most in the NFL behind the Saints' Drew Bees (39).
5) Reuniting with a former college teammate
Stafford was teammates with current Rams assistant head coach/running backs coach Thomas Brown for two seasons (2006-07) at the University of Georgia; Stafford's freshman and sophomore seasons overlapped with Brown's junior and senior seasons.
