John Thomas Wolford Bio
John Thomas Wolford is an American professional football quarterback currently playing for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL). Born on October 16, 1995, in Dallas, Texas, Wolford has built a career spanning multiple NFL teams and the now-defunct Alliance of American Football (AAF). His journey from an undrafted free agent to a Super Bowl champion highlights his resilience and adaptability as a professional quarterback.
Early Life and Background
Wolford moved to Jacksonville, Florida, at an early age and attended Bishop Kenny High School. As a pro-style quarterback, he earned a three-star recruit rating from Rivals.com and ESPN. Wolford briefly held the all-time lead in major statistical passing categories for high school football in the state of Florida before committing to play college football at Wake Forest University.
His family background includes strong football connections. His uncle, Will Wolford, was a three-time Pro Bowl offensive tackle who played 13 seasons in the NFL, providing John with valuable NFL family connections and mentorship throughout his development.
Path to Professional Football
Wolford arrived at Wake Forest as a highly regarded recruit and immediately made an impact. He became 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 freshman. While he threw 13 interceptions in his first eight games, he showed significant improvement by limiting himself to just one interception in the final four games of the season.
His sophomore year brought continued success, including a career-high 323-yard performance against Elon and a 373-yard game against Syracuse. As a junior, he started 11 of 13 games despite missing one due to injury. His senior season proved to be his best, earning him second-team All-ACC honors while setting Wake Forest records in single-season passer rating, passing yards, touchdown passes, total offense yards, and career touchdowns.
In the Belk Bowl during his senior year, Wolford delivered a historic performance, setting school bowl game records with 32 completions, 49 attempts, 400 passing yards, and 4 touchdowns. He became the first FBS player since 2000 to pass for 400 or more yards, rush for 65 or more yards, and throw no interceptions in a bowl game.
John Thomas Wolford Career
Early Career (2018)
After going undrafted in the 2018 NFL Draft, 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 one interception. The Jets waived him on September 2, 2018, and signed him to their practice squad the following day. He was released from the practice squad shortly after to make room for another quarterback.
Arizona Hotshots Breakthrough (2019)
Wolford joined the Arizona Hotshots of the Alliance of American Football in 2019 after being drafted with their second-round pick in the AAF QB Draft. He competed with first-round pick Trevor Knight for the starting job during training camp. In the Hotshots’ sole preseason game against the Birmingham Iron, Wolford completed 9 of 14 passes for 116 yards, one touchdown, and a two-point conversion, earning him the starting role.
In his regular-season debut against the Salt Lake Stallions, Wolford completed 18 of 29 passes for 275 yards and four touchdowns with two two-point conversions, earning AAF Offensive Player of the Week honors. He earned a second Player of the Week award in Week 7, completing 15 of 19 passes for 212 yards and two touchdowns while also rushing for a 35-yard touchdown against the San Diego Fleet. Wolford finished the AAF season as the league’s passing touchdowns leader.
Los Angeles Rams Era (2019-2022)
On April 10, 2019, Wolford signed with the Los Angeles Rams of the NFL after the AAF suspended operations. He was waived during final roster cuts but was signed to the Rams’ practice squad. He signed a reserve/future contract with the Rams on December 31, 2019.
His defining NFL moment came in Week 17 of the 2020 season. Following an injury to starter Jared Goff, Wolford was named the starting quarterback for the final regular-season game against the Arizona Cardinals with a playoff berth on the line. Despite throwing an interception on his first pass attempt, Wolford recovered to complete 22 of 38 passes for 231 yards and rush for 56 yards as the Rams won 18-7 to clinch the playoffs. He became the first quarterback since 2013 to make his first NFL start during Week 17 with a playoff berth at stake, and the first quarterback ever to pass for 200 or more yards and rush for 50 or more yards in an NFL debut.
Wolford started the Wild Card playoff game at the Seattle Seahawks but left in the first quarter with a neck injury after a collision with safety Jamal Adams. He was taken to the hospital and released the same day after completing 3 of 6 passes for 29 yards. The Rams won that game 30-20 but lost to the Green Bay Packers the following week.
In 2021, Wolford served as backup to newly acquired quarterback Matthew Stafford as the Rams made their Super Bowl run, winning Super Bowl LVI 23-20 against the Cincinnati Bengals. Wolford earned his first Super Bowl championship ring as a member of the team. On November 13, 2022, Wolford was named the starting quarterback for Week 10 against the Cardinals after Stafford entered concussion protocol.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2023)
On May 9, 2023, Wolford signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He was released during final roster cuts but was signed to the practice squad. He was promoted to the active roster on October 31, 2023. Wolford re-signed with the Buccaneers in March 2024 before being released during final roster cuts in August 2024.
Jacksonville Jaguars (2024-2025)
On December 3, 2024, Wolford signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars’ practice squad. He was signed to the active roster on February 17, 2025. He was released by the Jaguars during final roster cuts on August 25, 2025.
Minnesota Vikings (2025-Present)
On October 29, 2025, the Minnesota Vikings signed Wolford to their practice squad. The team needed an additional veteran quarterback after Carson Wentz suffered a season-ending injury on October 5 against the Cleveland Browns. Wolford was promoted to the Vikings’ active roster on December 6, 2025, providing depth at the quarterback position for the remainder of the season.
Playing Style and Strengths
Wolford is known for his dual-threat ability as a quarterback who can make plays with both his arm and his legs. His collegiate career at Wake Forest showcased his mobility, including his ability to rush for significant yardage while maintaining passing efficiency. In his limited NFL appearances, he has demonstrated the capacity to extend plays with his feet and pick up yards on designed runs. His experience in multiple offensive systems and his composure in high-pressure situations have made him a reliable veteran backup throughout his career.
Notable Events and Milestones
The defining moment of Wolford’s career remains his Week 17 start against the Arizona Cardinals in 2020. Making his NFL debut with a playoff berth on the line, Wolford overcame a rough start to lead the Rams to victory and become the first quarterback to achieve a 200-yard passing and 50-yard rushing debut in NFL history. His Super Bowl LVI championship with the Rams represents the pinnacle of his professional achievements.
John Thomas Wolford Career Wins
Throughout his professional career, Wolford has accumulated wins across multiple leagues and teams. His most significant victories came during his time with the Los Angeles Rams, where he contributed to playoff success and ultimately a Super Bowl championship. In the AAF, he established himself as one of the league’s top quarterbacks with multiple Player of the Week honors and the league’s passing touchdowns title.
Los Angeles Rams Highlights
Wolford’s Rams tenure included a Week 17 victory over the Arizona Cardinals that clinched a playoff berth and a Wild Card playoff win against the Seattle Seahawks despite being cut short by injury. The pinnacle of his Rams career came in February 2022 when he earned a Super Bowl LVI championship ring as the backup quarterback during the Rams’ run to the title.
Other Professional Achievements
In the AAF, Wolford led the Arizona Hotshots to multiple victories including a 38-22 win over the Salt Lake Stallions in the season opener and a 32-15 victory against the San Diego Fleet. His 275-yard, four-touchdown debut stands as one of the best single-game performances in the brief history of the Alliance of American Football.
Family
Family Background and Football Lineage
Wolford comes from a distinguished NFL family. His uncle, Will Wolford, was a three-time Pro Bowl offensive tackle who played 13 seasons in the NFL with the Buffalo Bills, Indianapolis Colts, and Pittsburgh Steelers. This family connection provided John with insights into professional football from an early age and helped shape his path to the NFL.
Personal Life
Wolford maintains a public profile with active social media presence on Instagram and X (formerly Twitter). He attended Bishop Kenny High School in Jacksonville, Florida, where he began developing the skills that would carry him through his college and professional career.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season brought Wolford to the Minnesota Vikings organization. Signed to the practice squad in late October, Wolford joined the Vikings at a critical juncture following Carson Wentz’s season-ending injury. His veteran experience provided stability to the quarterback room as the team navigated the remainder of its schedule. Wolford was promoted to the active roster in early December, offering the team additional depth and experience at the quarterback position for the stretch run of the season.