Matthew Stafford’s résumé for Hall of Fame enshrinement continues to build and build.
Stafford’s latest accomplishment came on Monday when the Los Angeles Rams quarterback threw three touchdowns to move into sixth place all time in NFL history.
Davante Adams caught Stafford’s 426th career touchdown pass, which propelled Stafford past Philip Rivers.
Aside from being a historic night for Stafford, it’s also a massive rebound performance after he went without a touchdown toss in the Rams’ season-opening loss to the San Francisco 49ers. Stafford, who led the NFL with 46 touchdown passes last season, didn’t go a game without a TD throw in 2025. Now he’s bounced back from his atypical showing in fine fashion.
The 38-year-old very much resides in rarefied air.
The reigning AP NFL MVP has fewer touchdowns than only Tom Brady (first; 649 touchdown passes), Drew Brees (second; 571), Peyton Manning (third; 539), Aaron Rodgers (fourth; 528), and Brett Favre (fifth; 508).
All-time touchdown pass leaders
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Player Touchdown passes
Tom Brady 649
Drew Brees 571
Peyton Manning 539
Aaron Rodgers 528
Brett Favre 508
Matthew Stafford 426
Philip Rivers 425
Stafford's first two TD passes Monday were to Adams and Kyren Williams, with the 10-yarder to Williams standing as his 143rd with the Rams. That put him into second all time in Rams history, moving him ahead of Jim Everett (142). Stafford in six years with the Rams now trails only Roman Gabriel (154) for most TD passes in club chronicle.
If Stafford is to catch Favre and/or become just the sixth NFL player to reach 500 TD passes, that would mean playing beyond the 2026 campaign.
For now, however, Stafford has climbed another rung up the all-time ladder, continuing to defy Father Time and pen an argument for a spot in Canton, in the process.