Matthew Stafford stands alone as Divisional Round QBs chase first Super Bowl

Ahead of this weekend’s Divisional Round in the NFL playoffs, eight teams still harbor hopes of winning Super Bowl LX on Feb. 8, 2026, at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. Following the Wild Card weekend results, there is an 87.5% chance that one of the remaining quarterbacks will win a championship for the very first time.

Stafford: The only Super Bowl-winning QB left

After the Wild Card eliminations of Aaron Rodgers’ Pittsburgh Steelers and Jalen Hurts’ Philadelphia Eagles, along with Patrick Mahomes’ Kansas City Chiefs surprisingly missing out on the postseason altogether, Matthew Stafford stands alone. He is the only remaining starting quarterback who has previously tasted Super Bowl success.

The Los Angeles Rams star led his team to an NFL championship in 2021. That was followed by two victories for the Chiefs’ Mahomes and Hurts’ first triumph with the Eagles last year.

Prior to Stafford’s win with Los Angeles, Tom Brady, who won titles in 2016, 2018 and 2020, and Nick Foles in 2017, both now retired, were the most recent champions, along with Mahomes in 2019.

Unfinished business for Purdy and Allen

Brock Purdy is the only other member of the class of 2025 who knows what playing in a Super Bowl feels like. The San Francisco 49ers pushed the Chiefs and Mahomes to the limit at Super Bowl LVIII in 2023, eventually losing in overtime.

After Stafford, now in his 17th season at age 37, Josh Allen and Sam Darnold are the most experienced of the remaining starting quarterbacks. In eight years in the league, the Buffalo Bills star has twice reached the AFC Championship game, losing both times.

In the same timeframe, Seattle Seahawks quarterback Darnold had reached the postseason just once before this season, with the Vikings in 2024. Minnesota were eliminated in the Divisional Round, which means the 28-year-old has already matched his previous career-best playoff run.

Young QBs looking for Super Bowl breakthrough

The Texans’ C.J. Stroud, now in his third NFL season, has lost at this stage in each of the last two years. Bo Nix’s only previous playoff experience ended with a Wild Card loss last season. This time, the Broncos were able to skip the opening round.

Drake Maye of the New England Patriots and the Chicago Bears’ Caleb Williams round out the field. Both quarterbacks are making their postseason debuts in just their second year in the NFL.

Divisional Round quarterbacks at a glance

C.J. Stroud, Texans: 24, third NFL season, lost in the Divisional Round in 2023 and 2024

Drake Maye, Patriots: 23, second NFL season, postseason debut

Josh Allen, Bills: 29, eighth NFL season, lost the AFC Championship game in 2020 and 2024

Bo Nix, Broncos: 25, second NFL season, lost in the Wild Card round in 2024

Brock Purdy, 49ers: 26, fourth NFL season, lost Super Bowl LVIII in 2023

Sam Darnold, Seahawks: 28, eighth NFL season, lost in the Divisional Round in 2024 with the Vikings

Matthew Stafford, Rams: 37, 17th NFL season, won Super Bowl LVI in 2021

Caleb Williams, Bears: 24, second NFL season, postseason debut

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