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Bucs sign former Rams, Wake Forest quarterback John Wolford

Wolford served as Matthew Stafford’s backup during the Rams’ Super Bowl season in 2021.
Former Rams backup quarterback John Wolford (13), seen in action in a game against the Seahawks last December, has signed as a free agent with the Bucs.
Former Rams backup quarterback John Wolford (13), seen in action in a game against the Seahawks last December, has signed as a free agent with the Bucs. [ JEFF LEWIS | AP ]
Published May 9

The Bucs continued the overhaul of their quarterback depth chart Tuesday, signing 27-year-old free agent John Wolford.

A former standout at Jacksonville’s Bishop Kenny High and the first player in Wake Forest history to start all 12 games as a true freshman, Wolford joins Baker Mayfield and Kyle Trask on the Tampa Bay depth chart. Former Florida International quarterback Kaylan Wiggins is expected at this weekend’s rookie minicamp.

Undrafted out of Wake Forest, Wolford spent the 2018 preseason with the Jets before being cut in early September. Shortly after a stint the following spring in the short-lived Alliance of American Football (AAF), he signed with the Rams, ultimately becoming Matthew Stafford’s backup on the team that won Super Bowl 56 in February 2022.

Former Rams quarterback Baker Mayfield, left, talks with backup John Wolford before a game against the Raiders last December. The two are being reunited in Tampa Bay.
Former Rams quarterback Baker Mayfield, left, talks with backup John Wolford before a game against the Raiders last December. The two are being reunited in Tampa Bay. [ MARK J. TERRILL | AP ]

In Tampa, he’ll be reunited with Mayfield, who joined the Rams last December and started four games down the stretch. Wolford has won two of his four career NFL starts, and has completed 61 of 104 attempts for 626 yards, a touchdown and five interceptions in seven career appearances.

At Wake Forest, he evolved into a second-team All-ACC pick by his senior year, setting program single-season records for efficiency rating (157.98), passing yards (3,192), touchdown passes (29) and total yards (3,875). In a Belk Bowl win against Texas A&M, he set school bowl-game records for attempts (49), completions (32), yards (400) and touchdown passes (four).

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