[1] He was selected by the Detroit Lions in the second round of the 2007 NFL draft, after playing college football for the Michigan State Spartans.

Stanton was a journeyman quarterback who was a member of the New York Jets, Indianapolis Colts, Arizona Cardinals, Cleveland Browns, and for a short stint the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, coming out of retirement.

[2] Eventually, the Stanton family moved to Farmington Hills, Michigan, northwest of Detroit, where he graduated from Harrison High School.

[6] However, Stanton injured his knee in the Alamo Bowl against Nebraska while covering a punt and had to undergo reconstructive surgery.

[14] Going into his senior season (2006), Stanton had been mentioned as a potential Heisman Trophy candidate and visited New York twice for the presentation.

Stanton made his NFL debut in a game against the Jacksonville Jaguars (entering in relief of Daunte Culpepper, whom the Lions had signed only days earlier after Orlovsky suffered a thumb injury).

[24] The 2009 season began with Stanton as third string quarterback behind 2009 NFL draft first-overall choice Matthew Stafford and previous starter Culpepper.

[29] He started the next game against the Green Bay Packers and led the Detroit Lions to a victory with a 13-yard touchdown pass to Will Heller.

[30] Drew also helped the Lions achieve their first road win in over three years, leading them to a 23–20 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

[37] After Carson Palmer suffered a season-ending injury in Week 10, Stanton stepped in and led the Cardinals to their eighth and ninth wins of the season.

[39] In the 2015 Week 17 matchup against the Seattle Seahawks, Drew Stanton was brought in for the second half of the game after Head Coach Bruce Arians pulled Palmer due to the Cardinals already having locked up the division and 2nd seed in the NFC.

He came in relief of Palmer after he suffered a concussion in Week 4 against the Los Angeles Rams, completing 4 of 11 passes for 37 yards and two interceptions in a 13–17 loss.

[46] In Week 7 of the 2017 season, Palmer suffered a broken arm during the game against the Los Angeles Rams, making Stanton the new starter.

[49] Stanton started the final two games of the regular season and helped lead the team to victories over the New York Giants and Seattle Seahawks.

[53] On December 24, 2020, Stanton signed with the practice squad of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after spending most of the season as a free agent.

[54] He was elevated to the active roster on February 6, 2021, for Super Bowl LV against the Kansas City Chiefs, and reverted to the practice squad after the game.