Despite the Los Angeles Rams falling to the Chicago Bears 24-18 this past week, veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford achieved a significant career milestone. Stafford has officially broken into the NFL’s top-10 for total career passing yards, a feat that continues to add weight to his Hall of Fame candidacy.

Breaking Into the Top-10

During the fourth quarter of Sunday’s game, Stafford surpassed former New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning on the all-time passing yardage list. Stafford now boasts a career total of 57,025 passing yards over 210 games, just edging out Manning, who compiled 57,023 yards across 236 games.

Stafford is also closing in on Manning’s position on the all-time passing touchdown leaderboard. With 359 career touchdown passes, Stafford sits at 11th all-time, needing only eight more to move past Manning into the top-10 in that category as well. Stafford is currently the second-leading active passer in the league, trailing only Aaron Rodgers.

Reflecting on his new position in the top-10, Stafford expressed humility, saying it’s a “humbling thing to be mentioned with a great player like Eli.” The Rams quarterback acknowledged that he will take time to appreciate the milestone later, stating, “I was a fan of this game long before I became a player of it in the NFL, and to be mentioned with some of those guys is a really cool, humbling thing for me.”

Steady Progress and Future Prospects

Stafford’s ascent into the top-10 comes as little surprise, given his consistent performance since being drafted in 2009. The Rams quarterback has thrown for over 4,000 yards in seven consecutive seasons between 2011 and 2017. Stafford is also one of only nine quarterbacks to throw for over 5,000 yards in a single season and holds several records for being the fastest player to reach multiple career passing yard milestones, including 30,000, 40,000, and 50,000 yards.

Though Stafford’s success in Detroit was often overshadowed by the team’s struggles, his trade to the Rams and subsequent Super Bowl victory in 2021 has rejuvenated his Hall of Fame candidacy. Many now see him as a strong contender, with the possibility of cracking the top-5 all-time passing yards list and the top-10 for passing touchdowns.

Hall of Fame Debate

The debate over Stafford’s place in NFL history is ongoing. Critics point to his lack of postseason success during his time with the Detroit Lions as a reason to hesitate in putting him among the NFL’s all-time greats. However, his individual accomplishments and recent Super Bowl victory strengthen his case.

With several years likely still ahead in his career and the potential to rise further in the all-time rankings, Stafford is poised to leave an enduring mark on the NFL. His contributions to the game, especially during the 2010s, may well be enough to secure his place in the Hall of Fame when the time comes.

For now, Stafford remains focused on leading the Rams through the rest of the season, hoping to further solidify his legacy while continuing to perform at an elite level.