Matthew Stafford Approaches Record for Career Losses

The veteran quarterback is now one loss away from tying Vinny Testaverde for the most career losses in NFL history.

Updated on Oct. 20, 2026 in Football

Matthew Stafford Approaches Record for Career Losses

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Matthew Stafford has accumulated 122 losses as an NFL starting quarterback over his 18-season career. He needs just one more defeat to match the league record currently held by Vinny Testaverde.

Why it matters

The milestone underscores the durability and longevity required to play the position for nearly two decades. Stafford remains the only active player currently positioned at the top of this career losses list.

Stafford holds a career record of 122-122-1 across 18 seasons, including a 48-32 mark with the Rams and a 74-90-1 record during his 12 seasons with the Lions. He currently sits ahead of retired quarterbacks like Eli Manning with 117 losses and Drew Brees with 114.

The players

Matthew Stafford

He is an NFL starting quarterback currently in his 18th professional season.

Vinny Testaverde

He is a retired NFL quarterback who holds the league record for most career losses with 123.

The details

Stafford reached this threshold after losing his fourth start of the 2026 season this past Sunday. The next ten quarterbacks on the all-time career losses list are all retired, leaving Stafford as the lone active player nearing the dubious record.

Stafford has lost four starts during the 2026 season.

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Season Trajectory

This milestone tracks the longevity of a starting quarterback, reflecting the high volume of games played over an 18-season span. It highlights the rare endurance required to compete in the league long enough to reach historical benchmarks for both wins and losses.

Stafford needs one more loss to tie the all-time record and two more to hold it alone. His current 2026 season record serves as the primary driver moving him toward this historical league statistic.

The takeaway

Reaching this threshold is a byproduct of maintaining a starting role for 18 years in a highly competitive league. Fans can monitor his upcoming performances to see if he breaks the record during the current 2026 season.