Matthew Stafford has thrown 3+ pick-sixes seven times in his NFL career.

Okay, so if you’ve been shocked over the course of the past three games, where LA Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford has thrown one pick-six in each of the last three games, then you need to read this. That’s just business as usual for Stafford. In fact, of his now 13th NFL season, Stafford has thrown for at least three pick-six interceptions (an interception run back for a touchdown) in seven seasons.

Shocked?

The record for the most pick-sixes thrown in one season is seven, and the dubious distinction falls upon Jameis Winston from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2019. Peyton Manning threw six pick-sixes in 2001 for the Indianapolis Colts.  So yes, good quarterbacks throw interceptions for touchdowns.

It seems that quarterbacks who live by the pass can die by the pass as well. At least that is the conclusion drawn by checking out the NFL QB Pick Six Single Season record-holder’s list on Pro Football Reference.  Even Kurt Warner threw three pick-sixes in the same season twice in his career.

But for Matthew Stafford, throwing three pick-sixes is familiar territory. He’s thrown three interceptions for touchdowns in 2009, 2011, 2013, 2017, 2020, and now 2021. His single-season record for pick-sixes was in 2012. In that year, he threw for four pick-sixes.

For an NFL Career, Bret Favre is the current record holder at 31 career pick-sixes thrown. Matthew Stafford is the current active quarterback record hold at 26 career pick-sixes thrown, which is currently sixth overall in NFL quarterback history. The second-highest total among active quarterbacks is held by Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan, who has thrown 19 pick-sixes in his career. Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady has thrown 17 pick-sixes in his career.

The LA Rams had to have vetted Stafford and his vulnerability to throw interceptions for touchdowns at a rate that dwarfs that of other NFL quarterbacks. Still, the team executed the high bid that landed him.

I guess if you are shocked at Stafford’s willingness to put points on the scoreboard for the opponent, don’t be. It’s kind of his thing, and something he’s done over half of his long NFL career.