All-Time Cardinals QBs Ranked: Warner #1, Hart #2

Kelly Stouffer

#11 · Arizona Cardinals
Retired 9 Years In The NFL
Kelly's
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0.0
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Kelly Stouffer Legacy

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Kelly Stouffer arrived in Seattle as a first-round pedigree with a Colorado State pedigree and immediate promise—he set a rookie passing record for the Seahawks in 1988. But the NFL's cruel mathematics caught up with him fast. A 5-11 starting record and pedestrian completion rates told the story of a talented arm that never quite found its rhythm in the league. His five-year journey as mostly a backup felt like unfulfilled potential, the classic case of draft capital not translating to sustained success. What endured, though, was Stouffer's grace in moving forward—he finished his degree in biology and built a second life as an ESPN college football analyst, proving that how you exit the game matters as much as how you played it.

Kelly Stouffer Rating Breakdown

Season
Fantasy
Playoffs
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5 years with the Cardinals

Kelly Stouffer Career Stats via Wikipedia

2,333 Pass Yards
7 Touchdowns
19 INTs
0.0% Comp %

Frequently Asked Questions About Kelly Stouffer

How does Kyler Murray compare to Kelly Stouffer?

Kelly Stouffer's Cardinals tenure was a blink—traded there in '88, never threw a pass in a red helmet, finished with 7 career TDs mostly in Seattle—while Kyler Murray's already got 104 through age 27, dual-threat magic keeping Birdgang dreams alive. Stouffer's a what-if footnote; Kyler's scripting a saga, one Houdini scramble at a time.

Is Kelly Stouffer in the Pro Football Hall of Fame?

Nah, Kelly Stouffer's not in Canton—his 54.5 passer rating and 7 TDs over four spotty Seahawk seasons didn't exactly scream bust-proof legend. Hall's for the Jim Browns, not the guys who went 5-11 as starters. Still, gotta respect the Colorado State grit that got him drafted fourth overall in '86.

What is Kelly Stouffer doing now in 2026?

Kelly Stouffer's off the grid in 2026—no headlines on broadcasting gigs, business ventures, or charity runs. Last whispers had him low-key post-NFL, maybe coaching youth or fading into civilian life after that 2,333-yard career flameout. Guy's 61 now; probably grilling burgers in Colorado, far from any mic.

How would Kelly Stouffer perform in today's NFL?

Stouffer's quick release and arm might snag a few more yards under today's no-roughing rules—less bruising for a 48% completion guy with 19 picks. But his 4.7 yards-per-attempt? Modern defenses with zone blitzes would've eaten him alive. He'd be a camp arm, not a starter, in this pass-happy era.

How does Kelly Stouffer compare to Jim Hart?

Jim Hart owned the '70s in St. Louis with a 34.49 rating, 24,611 yards, and four Pro Bowls; Stouffer's 8.44 over 437 throws was a sad sequel, more interceptions than TDs. Hart was the pocket maestro Cardinals leaned on; Kelly, a '86 top pick, flickered out like a bad trade. Vintage vs. vaporware.