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John Thomas Wolford (born October 16, 1995) is an American professional football quarterback. He played college football for the Wake Forest Demon Deacons and signed with the New York Jets as an undrafted free agent in 2018. Wolford played for the Los Angeles Rams from 2019 to 2022, and has also played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Jacksonville Jaguars, and the Arizona Hotshots of the Alliance of American Football.
He had another strong year as a sophomore. In the first game of the season, he threw for a career-high 323 yards in a 41–3 win over Elon; the next week, he threw for 373 yards in a 30–17 loss vs. Syracuse. His 696 passing yards in the first two games constituted the best start ever by a Wake Forest quarterback. As a junior, he started 11 of 13 games, missing one game due to injury.
As a senior, he had the most impressive season of his college career, earning second-team all-ACC honors and setting school records in single-season passer rating, passing yards, touchdown passes, total offense yards, and touchdowns, as well as the school record in career touchdowns. In the Belk Bowl, he set school bowl game records in completions (32), attempts (49), passing yards (400), and touchdowns (4), becoming the first FBS player since 2000 to pass for 400+ yards, rush for 65+ yards, and throw no interceptions in a bowl game.
In the first game of the regular season, a 38–22 win over the Salt Lake Stallions, Wolford completed 18-of-29 passes for 275 yards, four touchdowns, and two two-point conversions; for his performance, he was named Week 1 AAF Offensive Player of the Week. He earned a second Player of the Week award in Week 7, when he completed 15-of-19 passes for 212 yards, two touchdowns, one interception, and a 126.3 passer rating. He also ran for a 35-yard touchdown in a 32–15 victory against the San Diego Fleet.
On December 28, 2020, following an injury to starter Jared Goff in a Week 16 game against the Seattle Seahawks, Rams' coach Sean McVay confirmed that Wolford would start the final game of the regular season against the Arizona Cardinals. Wolford would become the first quarterback since 2013 to make his first start with a team during Week 17 with a playoff berth on the line (Kyle Orton with the Dallas Cowboys). After throwing an interception to Cardinals' linebacker Jordan Hicks on his first pass attempt of the game, Wolford quickly turned things around, completing 22-of-38 passes for 231 yards while also rushing six times for 56 yards; the Rams went on to beat the Cardinals 18–7 to clinch a playoff berth. He became the first quarterback to pass for 200+ yards and rush for 50+ yards in an NFL debut. Wolford started for the Rams in the at the Seahawks, but left in the first quarter with a neck injury after sustaining a shoulder-to-helmet hit from Seahawks' safety Jamal Adams. He was taken to the hospital and was later released the same day. Wolford completed 3-of-6 passes for 29 yards prior to leaving the game, which the Rams went on to win 30–20. The Rams would end their postseason in a loss to the Packers the following week.
In 2021, Wolford served as the backup for newly acquired quarterback Matthew Stafford. Wolford also remained the backup during the Rams' playoff run, winning Super Bowl LVI 23–20 where they defeated the Cincinnati Bengals.
On November 13, 2022, Wolford was named the starting quarterback for Week 10 against the Cardinals after Stafford was placed in concussion protocol. Coincidentally, Cardinals' starting quarterback Kyler Murray also missed the game due to injury, with Colt McCoy serving as the starter in a backup versus backup matchup.
Wolford re-signed with the Buccaneers on March 15, 2024. He was released during final roster cuts on August 27.
On August 25, Wolford was released by the Jaguars as part of final roster cuts.
| Won the Super Bowl | |
| Bold | Career high |
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