John Wolford Bio
John Thomas Wolford is an American professional football quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL). 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.
Early Life and Background
John Wolford was born on October 16, 1995, in Dallas, Texas. He moved to Jacksonville, Florida, at an early age, where he attended Bishop Kenny High School. As a pro-style quarterback, he was rated a three-star recruit by Rivals.com and ESPN, committing to play college football for the Wake Forest Demon Deacons. During his high school career, he briefly held the all-time lead in major statistical passing categories for high school football in Florida. Wolford’s formative years were marked by his dedication to football, which set the stage for his future career. He excelled in high school, showcasing his talent and earning recognition that would lead him to college football. His education at Wake Forest University further honed his skills, where he played from 2014 to 2017.
Path to American Football
John Wolford began his college career as the first Wake Forest player to start all 12 games as a true freshman, setting school records in attempts, passing yards, touchdowns, and completion percentage by a true freshman. Despite facing challenges, including 13 interceptions in his first eight games, he showed significant improvement, finishing eighth in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) in passing yards per game. As a sophomore, Wolford continued to impress, throwing for a career-high 323 yards in a win against Elon and 373 yards against Syracuse. His junior year saw him start 11 of 13 games, and as a senior, he earned second-team All-ACC honors, setting multiple school records. His performance in the Belk Bowl was particularly noteworthy, where he set records for completions, attempts, passing yards, and touchdowns.
John Wolford Career
Early Career (2018)
After going undrafted in the 2018 NFL Draft, John Wolford signed as an undrafted free agent with the New York Jets. He played in the preseason finale against the Philadelphia Eagles, completing 8-of-20 pass attempts for 89 yards and an interception. However, he was waived on September 2, 2018, and signed to the practice squad the following day, only to be released shortly after.
Breakthrough (2019-2022)
Wolford’s breakthrough came when he was drafted by the Arizona Hotshots in the 2019 AAF QB Draft. He quickly established himself as a starter, earning accolades such as the Week 1 AAF Offensive Player of the Week after a standout performance against the Salt Lake Stallions. His success in the AAF led to a signing with the Los Angeles Rams in April 2019. On December 28, 2020, Wolford made his first start for the Rams in a crucial game against the Arizona Cardinals, becoming the first quarterback since 2013 to make his first start with a team during Week 17 with a playoff berth on the line. He completed 22-of-38 passes for 231 yards and rushed for 56 yards, leading the Rams to victory. Wolford also played in the Wild Card playoff game against the Seattle Seahawks, although he left the game with a neck injury. In 2021, Wolford served as the backup quarterback for the Rams and was part of the team that won Super Bowl LVI, defeating the Cincinnati Bengals. He continued to play for the Rams until 2022.
Notable Works and Milestones
John Wolford’s signature achievements include being a Super Bowl champion and leading the AAF in passing touchdowns in 2019. His career-defining moments include his impressive debut with the Rams and his contributions to the team’s playoff run.
John Wolford Award Nominations
Throughout his career, John Wolford has received recognition for his performances, including being named a second-team All-ACC player in 2017 and leading the AAF in passing touchdowns in 2019.
John Wolford Awards Won
John Wolford’s notable achievements include winning Super Bowl LVI with the Los Angeles Rams. He has also been recognized for his performance in college football, earning second-team All-ACC honors.
John Wolford Family
Information regarding John Wolford’s family is limited. However, it is known that his uncle, Will Wolford, was a three-time Pro Bowl offensive tackle who played 13 seasons in the NFL.
Personal Life
Details about John Wolford’s personal life are not widely publicized. He maintains a low profile outside of his professional career, focusing primarily on football.
