Even though Aaron Rodgers is still the oldest starting quarterback in the league, no veteran is playing the position at a higher level than Matthew Stafford right now. The reigning MVP is finally getting the respect he’s long deserved, both from analysts and players – including Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold.
During a recent interview with CBS Sports, Darnold talked about one iconic trait of Stafford’s: his no-look passes. Darnold has “a ton” of respect for that aspect of Stafford’s game, admitting he doesn’t know if he would attempt them in a game – or practice.
“Sometimes, while I’m taking my drop, my eyes will be down the middle of the field, maybe, trying to look a defender off this way. Or maybe even trying to look a defender off this way to rip it behind him,” Darnold said. “Matthew Stafford is a – there’s plenty of clips of him doing this right behind the ear, and those are all drive shots.”
Sam Darnold breaks down how impressive Matthew Stafford’s no-look pass is with @EvanWashburnpic.twitter.com/ETGJN3WAe4
— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) June 11, 2026
CBS Sports’ Evan Washburn asked Darnold if “that’s where we get caught up in the no-look aspect” of Stafford’s throws. Darnold made it very clear just how impressive those no-lookers are.
“It’s a no-look, and it’s impressive, because I don’t know if I would do that, even in practice,” he said. “No, that’s something that he’s worked on a lot. You can tell, and I respect that a ton.”
Stafford has been pulling off no-look passes for more than a decade, and not simply to show off. They have actual benefits, as we saw in the Super Bowl when he ripped one over the middle to Cooper Kupp on the game-winning drive, holding the safety with his eyes before zipping a pass behind him.
Patrick Mahomes and a select few other quarterbacks use them in games, but no one is better at them than Stafford.
This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: Matthew Stafford’s no-look passes earn major respect from Sam Darnold
