Clifford graduated from 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.[3][4]
College career
After redshirting his first year at Penn State in 2017, Clifford spent 2018 as Trace McSorley's backup.[5] He appeared in four games, completing five of seven passes for 195 yards with two touchdowns.[6]
Clifford in 2019
Clifford was named the starting quarterback in 2019.[7][8] He was selected All-Big Ten honorable mention by the coaches and media, and named an Academic All-Big Ten honoree.[1]
Clifford played in all nine games of a shortened season during the COVID-19 pandemic. He was 152-for-251 (60.6%) 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.[1]
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.[1]
Clifford started all 13 games of the 2022 season and finished 226-for-351 passing with 2,822 yards, 24 touchdowns and seven interceptions.[1] 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.[9] He was named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week twice (Purdue September 1, 2022; Minnesota October 22, 2022).[1] He was also honored as the 2022 Brian Westbrook Regional Player of the Year.[10]
Clifford was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the fifth round with the 149th pick of the 2023 NFL draft.[13] He signed his rookie contract on May 5, 2023.[14]
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.[15] 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.[16]
Clifford was released on August 27, 2024, and re-signed to the practice squad.[17][18] He was elevated to the active roster for Weeks 2 and 3 in September 2024.[19][20] He was signed by the Packers to the active roster on January 11, 2025.[21]
In 2022, Sean and Liam Clifford founded the student-athlete NIL agency, Limitless NIL. Limitless athletes have signed deals accumulating over $250,000 with over 50 companies.[22] Limitless NIL was sold to TEAM Group Holdings inc. in 2023.[23]