Sean Clifford
Sean Burke Clifford is an American professional football quarterback for the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League. He played college football for the Penn State Nittany Lions. He was the starting quarterback and team captain for the Nittany Lions from 2019 through 2022.
Early life
Clifford graduated from St. [Xavier High School |St. Xavier High School] in Cincinnati in 2017. During his career, he passed for 4,004 yards and 30 touchdowns with a school record 1,100 rushing yards and 20 touchdowns as a quarterback. In his senior season he led the Bombers to a Division 1 State Championship. He committed to Penn State University to play college football.College career
After redshirting his first year at Penn State in 2017, Clifford spent 2018 as Trace McSorley's backup. He appeared in four games, completing five of seven passes for 195 yards with two touchdowns.Clifford was named the starting quarterback in 2019. He was selected All-Big Ten honorable mention by the coaches and media, and named an Academic All-Big Ten honoree.
Clifford played in all nine games of a shortened season during the COVID-19 pandemic. He was 152-for-251 for 1,883 yards with 16 touchdowns and nine interceptions. Clifford again was named an Academic All-Big Ten Conference honoree and earned a bachelor's degree in advertising and public relations following the 2020 fall semester.
Clifford started all 13 games of the 2021 season and finished 261-for-429 passing with 3,107 yards, 21 touchdowns and nine interceptions. He was honored in the 2021 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class, selected to the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team, earned a spot on the Senior CLASS Award first team, named All-Big Ten honorable mention by the coaches and media, named Penn State's Big Ten Sportsmanship Award honoree, earned Academic All-Big Ten honors, and earned the team's Public Service and Lion's Pride Outstanding Senior Player Awards.
Clifford started all 13 games of the 2022 season and finished 226-for-351 passing with 2,822 yards, 24 touchdowns and seven interceptions. During the 2023 Rose Bowl, Sean Clifford's 88-yard touchdown pass to KeAndre Lambert-Smith became the longest passing play in Rose Bowl game history. He was named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week twice. He was also honored as the 2022 Brian Westbrook Regional Player of the Year.
College statistics
Professional career
Green Bay Packers
Clifford was selected by the Green Bay Packers in the fifth round with the 149th pick of the 2023 NFL draft. He signed his rookie contract on May 5, 2023.He made his NFL debut on September 10, 2023, relieving Jordan Love in the closing minutes of a 38–20 win against the Chicago Bears; he attempted no passes and rushed the ball once for no gain. He did not see the field again until December 31, when he completed his first NFL pass attempt, a 37–yarder to Bo Melton, during a 33–10 win against the Minnesota Vikings.
Clifford was released on August 27, 2024, and re-signed to the practice squad. He was elevated to the active roster for Weeks 2 and 3 in September 2024. Clifford was signed by the Packers to the active roster on January 11, 2025.
On August 26, 2025, Clifford was released by the Packers as part of final roster cuts.
Cincinnati Bengals
On September 16, 2025, Clifford was signed to the Cincinnati Bengals' practice squad as a result of an injury to Bengals starting quarterback Joe Burrow. On October 31, Clifford was signed from the practice squad to the active roster as a result of an injury suffered by Joe Flacco. He was waived on November 24, and re-signed to the practice squad.Clifford signed a reserve/future contract with Cincinnati on January 5, 2026.