The Denver Broncos are turning to Jarrett Stidham on Sunday in place of the injured Bo Nix. Many are counting the Broncos out already, but if there's one thing NFL history has taught us, it's that the postseason is no stranger to heroic performances from backup quarterbacks.
Here are five backup QBs who turned in iconic playoff games after being thrust into action. For clarity, this list only includes second-string passers who were called to start during the playoffs or shortly before. Backup signal-callers who took over the starting job early in the season are excluded.
Nick Foles - Super Bowl LII
It's impossible to compile a collection of iconic postseason performances by backup quarterbacks without mentioning the almighty Foles. The passer, also known as St. Nick, capped a miraculous run for the Philadelphia Eagles by outdueling Tom Brady in Super Bowl LII. Foles, who was forced into the spotlight late in the 2017 season after Carson Wentz suffered a torn ACL, exploded for 373 yards, three passing touchdowns, and an unforgettable receiving score on a trick play dubbed the "Philly Special." He was recognized as the Super Bowl MVP that day, but to the city of Philadelphia, which earned its first Lombardi Trophy, Foles is immortalized.
Frank Reich - 1992 wild-card round
Before he was an NFL head coach, Reich was a longtime backup who engineered the largest comeback in playoff history versus the Houston Oilers. Filling in for Buffalo Bills quarterback Jim Kelly, who injured his knee during the regular-season finale (also against the Oilers), Reich threw a pick-6 early in the third quarter. Buffalo, trailing 35-3, appeared all but dead in the wild-card rematch. He then flipped a switch, leading touchdown drives on the Bills' next four possessions to close the gap to 35-31. A fourth-quarter touchdown pass to Andre Reed put them in front late, and while Houston managed to send the game to overtime, Buffalo emerged victorious by a score of 38-35. Reich passed for 289 yards and four touchdowns in a rally for the record books.
Jeff Hostetler - Super Bowl XXV
The New York Giants could've packed it in when Phil Simms broke his foot versus Buffalo in Week 15 of the 1990 season. Instead, Hostetler stepped up and guided New York to Super Bowl XXV, a rematch against the dynamic Bills. "Hoss" led the resilient Giants on an epic comeback featuring lengthy drives, finishing with 222 passing yards and a touchdown while completing 62.5% of his throws. He became the first backup QB to start and win a Super Bowl.
Doug Williams - Super Bowl XXII
Williams joined Washington in 1986 with five seasons of experience starting for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, yet, in 1987, head coach Joe Gibbs tabbed Jay Schroeder as his primary quarterback for the second consecutive campaign. But after consistently impressing Gibbs over five regular-season appearances in relief of an injured Schroeder, Williams was named the full-time starter for the team's postseason run. The 32-year-old propelled Washington to three playoff wins, saving his best performance for Super Bowl XXII. The Grambling State product passed for 340 yards and four touchdowns in a 42-10 rout of the Denver Broncos and was awarded Super Bowl MVP.
Earl Morrall - Super Bowl V
The New York Jets embarrassed the Baltimore Colts' Morrall in Super Bowl III, intercepting him three times before he was benched. Two years later, the former league MVP got his chance at redemption when Johnny Unitas exited Super Bowl V due to a rib injury sustained during the second quarter. With the Colts trailing the Dallas Cowboys 13-6, Morrall keyed a fourth-quarter push and served as the placeholder for Jim O'Brien's game-winning field goal. He became the first quarterback - starter or backup - to lead a comeback victory in the Super Bowl.
