John Wolford

John Wolford Bio

John Thomas Wolford is an American professional football quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL). He stands 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) tall and weighs 218 lb (99 kg), a compact build that complements his mobile playing style. Wolford first reached the NFL in 2018 as an undrafted free agent and has since built a career as a reliable backup and short-range starter across multiple organizations.

Over the course of his career, Wolford has played for the New York Jets, the Arizona Hotshots of the Alliance of American Football (AAF), the Los Angeles Rams, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Jacksonville Jaguars, and now the Minnesota Vikings. He is a Super Bowl champion from the Rams’ victory in Super Bowl LVI and has been recognized as the AAF passing touchdowns leader in 2019. Across more than 100 career passing attempts, he has thrown for more than 600 yards and added a Super Bowl ring to his résumé.

John Wolford Early Life and Background

John Thomas Wolford was born on October 16, 1995, in Dallas, Texas. He moved to Jacksonville, Florida, at an early age, where he grew up and attended Bishop Kenny High School. The shift from Texas to Florida came during his childhood and laid the foundation for his development as a young athlete.

At Bishop Kenny, Wolford was trained as a pro-style quarterback and emerged as one of the more productive passers in Florida high school football. He was rated a three-star recruit by Rivals.com and ESPN, and his high school statistical record-setting performances drew attention from college programs around the country. He eventually committed to play college football for the Wake Forest Demon Deacons, choosing the ACC program over other suitors.

Path to American Football

Wolford’s path to professional football began with a stellar freshman season at Wake Forest, where he became the first Demon Deacon to start all 12 games as a true freshman. He set school freshman records in attempts, passing yards, touchdowns, and completion percentage, and finished eighth in the ACC in passing yards per game at 169.8, second among freshmen behind only Miami’s Brad Kaaya.

As a sophomore, Wolford produced consecutive big games, throwing for a then-career-high 323 yards in a 41–3 win over Elon and following up with 373 yards against Syracuse. His 696 passing yards in the first two games marked the best start ever by a Wake Forest quarterback. After starting 11 of 13 games as a junior, he returned for a senior season in which he earned second-team All-ACC honors and set school records for single-season passer rating, passing yards, touchdown passes, total offense yards, and touchdowns, while also claiming the school record for career touchdowns. He closed his college career with a record-setting performance in the Belk Bowl, setting school bowl marks for completions, attempts, passing yards, and touchdowns.

John Wolford Career

Early Career (2018–2019)

After going undrafted in the 2018 NFL Draft, Wolford signed as an undrafted free agent with the New York Jets. He saw action in most of the preseason finale against the Philadelphia Eagles, completing 8 of 20 passes for 89 yards and an interception. He was waived on September 2, 2018, signed to the practice squad the next day, and released on September 4 to make room for Davis Webb.

Wolford then joined the Arizona Hotshots of the Alliance of American Football, who selected him with their second-round pick in the 2019 AAF QB Draft. He won the starting job over Trevor Knight and opened the regular season with a 38–22 win over the Salt Lake Stallions, completing 18 of 29 passes for 275 yards and four touchdowns en route to AAF Offensive Player of the Week honors. He earned a second Player of the Week award in Week 7 and finished as the AAF’s passing touchdowns leader in 2019 before the league suspended operations.

Los Angeles Rams Breakthrough (2019–2022)

On April 10, 2019, Wolford signed with the Los Angeles Rams after the AAF folded. He bounced between the active roster and practice squad that fall, signed a reserve/future contract on December 31, and waited nearly two years for his first real opportunity. That opportunity arrived on December 28, 2020, when Rams head coach Sean McVay announced Wolford would start the regular-season finale against the Arizona Cardinals after an injury to starter Jared Goff.

Wolford became the first quarterback since 2013 to make his first start with a team in Week 17 with a playoff berth on the line. He recovered from an early interception to complete 22 of 38 passes for 231 yards and rush six times for 56 yards, leading the Rams to an 18–7 win and a postseason spot. In the Wild Card round at Seattle, he completed 3 of 6 passes for 29 yards before leaving with a neck injury following a hit by Jamal Adams. He returned as a backup in 2021, serving behind newly acquired Matthew Stafford throughout the Rams’ playoff run and earning a Super Bowl ring as Los Angeles beat the Cincinnati Bengals 23–20 in Super Bowl LVI. In November 2022, he was again pressed into action, starting Week 10 against the Cardinals when Stafford entered concussion protocol.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Era (2023–2024)

Wolford signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on May 9, 2023. He was released on August 29 and re-signed to the practice squad a day later before being promoted to the active roster on October 31. He re-signed with the Buccaneers on March 15, 2024, but was released during final roster cuts on August 27.

Jacksonville Jaguars Era (2024–2025)

On December 3, 2024, Wolford joined the Jacksonville Jaguars’ practice squad, then signed with the active roster on February 17, 2025. He was released by the Jaguars as part of final roster cuts on August 25.

Minnesota Vikings Era (2025–Present)

The Minnesota Vikings signed Wolford to their practice squad on October 29, 2025, after starting quarterback Carson Wentz suffered a season-ending shoulder injury against the Cleveland Browns. With the Vikings in need of an experienced veteran behind center, Wolford was promoted to the active roster on December 6, 2025. He rejoined the NFC playoff picture and provided depth for the final stretch of the regular season.

Driving Style and Strengths

Wolford is a mobile, pro-style quarterback who blends sharp intermediate passing with the willingness to run. He is comfortable operating from the pocket on quick reads but also threatens defenses with designed runs and scrambles, an asset that shows in performances like his Rams debut, where he paired 231 passing yards with 56 rushing yards.

Notable Events and Milestones

Wolford’s signature moments include his record-setting senior year at Wake Forest and his historic 2020 NFL debut, the first Week 17 debut by a quarterback with a playoff spot on the line since 2013. He also earned a Super Bowl LVI championship ring as a Rams backup and led the AAF in passing touchdowns in 2019.

John Wolford Career Wins

John Thomas Wolford’s win résumé spans the Belk Bowl, the AAF, and multiple NFL seasons. He earned Super Bowl LVI honors with the Los Angeles Rams and helped the Arizona Hotshots open their 2019 AAF season with a Week 1 victory over the Salt Lake Stallions.

College Highlights

Wolford capped his college career with a Belk Bowl record-setting performance and earned second-team All-ACC honors as a senior. He set Wake Forest school records for single-season passer rating, passing yards, touchdown passes, total offense yards, and touchdowns, and he became the first FBS player since 2000 to pass for 400-plus yards and rush for 65-plus yards without an interception in a bowl game.

Other Wins and Performances

Wolford captured AAF Offensive Player of the Week honors twice in 2019, in Week 1 and Week 7, and he led the Rams to an 18–7 win over the Arizona Cardinals in his 2020 NFL debut, a victory that clinched a playoff berth. His Super Bowl LVI ring stands as the crown jewel of his professional résumé.

John Wolford Family

Family Background and Racing Lineage

Wolford comes from a football family. His uncle, Will Wolford, was a three-time Pro Bowl offensive tackle who played 13 seasons in the NFL, providing a clear professional lineage behind John’s path to the league.

Personal Life

John Thomas Wolford has kept much of his personal life out of the public eye. He was born in Dallas, Texas, and was raised in Jacksonville, Florida, where he attended Bishop Kenny High School before heading to Wake Forest for college.

2025 Season Performance

The 2025 NFL season has been a journeyman chapter for John Thomas Wolford. After being released by the Jacksonville Jaguars on August 25 as part of final roster cuts, he remained a free agent until October 29, when the Minnesota Vikings added him to their practice squad to replace the injured Carson Wentz.

Wolford’s role shifted again on December 6, when the Vikings promoted him to the active roster for the final weeks of the regular season. He provides veteran depth at quarterback and offers the kind of mobility and short-to-intermediate accuracy he showed during his Rams career, including the 18–7 win over Arizona that clinched a 2020 playoff spot.

Looking ahead, Wolford’s outlook for the rest of 2025 centers on serving as a reliable backup and possible spot starter for a Vikings team still in the playoff hunt. With his track record of stepping into pressure situations, from his NFL debut to his AAF opening week, he remains a steady veteran presence in Minnesota’s quarterback room.