John Stofa was signed by the Miami Dolphins in 1966, their first year in the AFL. The Dolphins used 4 quarterbacks that season (Dick Wood, George Wilson Jr, Rick Norton, and Stofa). Wood and Wilson each played in 14 games, and made 11 starts between them. Stofa and Norton each played in 7 games (so maybe they split the #3 QB roster spot?) with Stofa making 1 start to Norton’s 2 starts.
In 1967, Wood and Wilson were gone, but Bob Griese was Miami’s #1 draft pick, and started 10 games as a rookie. Stofa was still stuck in the #3 slot, this time only playing 1 game.
Stofa had a change of scenery in 1968, spending the season as the expansion Bengals’ primary quarterback. He was the first player signed by the new team, acquired from Miami 3 days after the close of the 1967 season, and a month before the expansion draft.
He played in 10 games (starting 7), and threw the first TD pass in Bengals’ history.
That was the extent of his starting career, as the Bengals drafted hometown hero Greg Cook from the University of Cincinnati with the 5th overall pick in 1969, and Stofa was released in July. A month later, the Dolphins picked him up, and he backed up Griese for another 2 seasons, making no starts.
After a 3-year absence, Stofa played for the WFL’s Jacksonville Sharks in 1974, backing up QB Reggie Oliver. (Oliver had played college ball at Marshall University, and as a freshman in 1970, did not make that fatal plane trip.)
Teams: Dolphins (1966-67, 69-70), Bengals (1968), WFL (1974)
For this first card, I will show the back as well.
