Matthew Stafford's résumé for Hall of Fame enshrinement continues to build and build.
Stafford's latest accomplishment came Monday when the Los Angeles Rams quarterback threw four touchdowns in a 28-6 win over the New York Giants, with the third score moving him into sixth place all time in NFL history.
Davante Adams caught Stafford's 426th career touchdown pass, an 11-yarder in the third quarter, to propel Stafford past Philip Rivers (425). He had 427 by the end of the evening.
"It's a humbling feeling," Stafford told ESPN's Lisa Salters after the game.
Aside from being a historic night for Stafford, it was 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).
| Player | Touchdown passes |
|---|---|
| Tom Brady | 649 |
| Drew Brees | 571 |
| Peyton Manning | 539 |
| Aaron Rodgers | 528 |
| Brett Favre | 508 |
| Matthew Stafford | 427 |
| Philip Rivers | 425 |
"I have so much respect for the people that played this game before me and am such a big fan of those guys," Stafford told Salters. "So, just to be in that same breath as those guys is a cool feeling for me."
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. He added his fourth touchdown throw of the game -- and 145th overall for L.A. -- late to tight end Terrance Ferguson.
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.
