As atrue freshman at Florida in 2011, Brissett was a backup to starterJohn Brantley.[9] In October, he started his first two career games, after Brantley was injured.[10] His first career start came against number-one rankedLSU.[11] He threw for 94 yards, onetouchdown and twointerceptions in the 41–11 loss.[12] Overall, he appeared in eight games, completing 18-of-39 passes for 206 yards, two touchdowns, and four interceptions.[13] Entering his sophomore season, Brissett competed withJeff Driskel for the Gators starting job.[14] On September 1, he started the opening game againstBowling Green. However, Driskel was the starter for the rest of the season. Brissett started his second game of the season on November 17 againstJacksonville State after Driskel was unable to play due to injury.[15] Overall, he appeared in five games, completing 23-of-35 for 249 yards and a touchdown.[16]
Brissett transferred toNC State in January 2013.[17][18] After sitting out the 2013 season due to transfer rules, Brissett took over as the Wolfpack's starting quarterback for 2014.[19][20][21][22] That year, he passed for 2,606 yards with 23 touchdowns and five interceptions.[23] As a senior in 2015, he passed for 2,662 yards and 20 touchdowns and six interceptions.[24]
Brissett was selected by theNew England Patriots in the third round with the 91st overall pick in the2016 NFL draft. He was the fifth quarterback to be selected that year.[29] He was the only player selected in the 2016 draft who declined to hire an agent.[30] On June 16, 2016, Brissett signed a four-year rookie contract with the Patriots, a contract he negotiated on his own.[31]
Brissett played in his first regular season game on September 18, 2016, after starterJimmy Garoppolo left the Patriots' Week 2 game against theMiami Dolphins after suffering a shoulder injury. The Patriots were leading 21–0 at the time, and Brissett finished the game completing 6-of-9 passes for 92 passing yards as the Patriots won 31–24.[32] The next week, Brissett made his first career start against theHouston Texans, completing 11-of-19 passes for 103 yards and carrying the ball eight times for 48 yards including a 27-yard touchdown run in a 27–0 victory.[33] He became the first African-American quarterback to start for the Patriots.[34] Brissett injured his thumb in the game against the Texans, but started the following week in a 16–0 loss to theBuffalo Bills.[35] Because the Patriots needed a roster spot forTom Brady after Brady'sDeflategate suspension had ended, Brissett was placed oninjured reserve on October 7, 2016, after having thumb surgery.[36] The Patriots activated Brissett from the injured reserve list; he began practicing on November 30, 2016,[37] and was activated to the 53-man roster on December 21, 2016.[38] He was inactive for all of the Patriots' remaining games, includingSuper Bowl LI, which the Patriots won 34–28 over theAtlanta Falcons.[39][40][41]
Brissett (#7) attempts a pass throughheavy snow in December 2017.
On September 2, 2017, Brissett was traded to theIndianapolis Colts forwide receiverPhillip Dorsett; the Colts had needed another quarterback afterAndrew Luck suffered an injury.[42][43] On September 10, 2017, Brissett made his debut with the Colts, relieving starting quarterbackScott Tolzien in the fourth quarter, and completed 2-of-3 passes for 51 yards as the Colts lost to theLos Angeles Rams 46–9.[44] The following week, he earned his first start with the Colts and threw for 216 yards against theArizona Cardinals. After a 13–13 tie in regulation, Brissett threw an interception toTyrann Mathieu in the first play of overtime, leading to an Arizona Cardinals 16–13 victory.[45][46]
On September 24, 2017, Brissett had two rushing touchdowns and completed 17-for-24 for 259 yards and a touchdown during a 31–28 victory over theCleveland Browns.[47] This marked his first victory and passing touchdown as a member of the Colts.[48] During a Week 5 matchup against theSan Francisco 49ers, Brissett completed 22-of-34 pass attempts for a career-high 314-yards and an interception, as the Colts won 26–23. In the victory, he also contributed a rushing touchdown.[49] In Week 9, against the Houston Texans, he had 308 passing yards and two touchdowns in the 20–14 victory.[50] After a six-game losing streak, Brissett had 114 passing yards and a touchdown in the regular season finale victory over the Texans.[51] Overall in the 2017 season, Brissett had 3,098 passing yards, 13 passing touchdowns, seven interceptions, 260 rushing yards, and four rushing touchdowns.[52] The Colts finished the 2017 season with a 4–12 record.[53]
Brissett returned to the backup role in 2018 with Luck returning from his shoulder injury.[54] In Week 3 against thePhiladelphia Eagles, with the Colts down 20–16 with seconds left in the game, Brissett replaced Luck to attempt aHail Mary pass from his own 46-yard line. He overthrew several players in the back of the end zone and the Colts lost the game. The move was questioned by some journalists and fans, and led to some speculation about the health of Luck's shoulder, although head coachFrank Reich and Luck both said it was purely because Brissett had a stronger throwing arm.[55] In a Week 12 win over the Dolphins, Brissett was brought in and completed a 4th and short throw to Luck, who was lined up as a receiver.[56] Overall, in the 2018 season, Brissett appeared in four games.[57]
Brissett was set to be the Colts' backup quarterback heading into the 2019 season. However, on August 24, 2019, two weeks before the start of the 2019 regular season, Andrew Luck abruptly announced his retirement. Colts general managerChris Ballard confirmed in a subsequent press conference that Brissett would be the full-time starting quarterback going into the season. On September 2, 2019, Brissett signed a two-year, $30 million contract with the Colts, with $20 million guaranteed, a contract he again negotiated himself because he doesn't "like people to BS on his behalf."[58][59] He was previously in the final year of his rookie contract and was set to make $2 million for the season.[60]
In Week 1 against theLos Angeles Chargers, Brissett threw for 190 yards and two touchdown passes toT. Y. Hilton in a 30–24 overtime loss.[61] On September 15, 2019, Brissett led the Colts to a 19–17 win over division rival Titans with three touchdown passes and one interception.[62] In Week 3 against the Falcons, Brissett threw for 310 yards and two touchdowns, as well as completing his first 16 pass attempts, as the Colts won 27–24.[63] In Week 4 against theOakland Raiders, Brissett threw 46 passes with 24 completions for 265 yards, including three passing touchdowns, but he also threw a late interception that was returned for a touchdown byErik Harris to seal the Colts' 31–24 loss.[64] In Week 5, against the eventual Super Bowl champions Kansas City Chiefs, Brissett threw for 151 yards and ran for their lone touchdown in the 19–13 win.[65]
In Week 7 against the Texans, Brissett threw for 326 yards and four touchdowns in the 30–23 win.[66] He was named theAFC Offensive Player of the Week for his performance.[67] The remainder of the season did not fare well for Brissett and the Colts with a 3–6 finish. In that stretch, he passed for 172.7 yards per game and totaled only four passing touchdowns to three interceptions.[68] Overall, he finished the season with 2,942 passing yards, 18 passing touchdowns, and six interceptions to go along with 228 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns.[69]
With the Colts signingPhilip Rivers in the offseason, Brissett remained the team's backup.[70] Brissett carved out a role where he would come into the game in relief of Rivers on deep passes and short-yardage situations.[71] He scored a rushing touchdown on a two-yard play in Week 10 against the Titans.[72] Offensive coordinatorNick Sirianni would later credit this as the inspiration for theTush Push play when he became head coach of thePhiladelphia Eagles.[73] In Week 12 against the Tennessee Titans, Brissett recorded two rushing touchdowns during the 45–26 loss.[74]
On March 18, 2021, Brissett signed a one-year contract with the Dolphins, reuniting Brissett with Dolphins head coachBrian Flores, who served as the Patriots linebacker coach during Brissett's rookie season with the team.[75]
On September 19, 2021, in Week 2, Brissett came into the game against the Bills afterTua Tagovailoa left the game with a rib injury. Brissett threw for 169 yards and an interception as the Dolphins lost 35–0.[76] Brissett was named the starter for the Dolphins Week 3 matchup against theLas Vegas Raiders due to Tagovailoa's injury.[77] He had a significant role in six games in the 2021 season. He finished with 1,283 passing yards, five passing touchdowns, and four interceptions to go with a rushing touchdown.[78]
On March 25, 2022, Brissett signed a one-year contract with the Browns.[79] Due toDeshaun Watson's sexual misconduct allegations and his 11-game suspension, Brissett was named the Week 1 starter for the game against theCarolina Panthers.[80] Brissett started and played every offensive snap in each of the Browns first eleven games, leading them to a 4–7 record with 2,608 passing yards and 14 total touchdowns while completing 64% of his passes for an 88.9passer rating—both career highs.[81]
On March 16, 2023, Brissett signed a one-year, $10 million contract with theWashington Commanders.[82] He played for the first time in the2023 season in Week 15 against the Rams, where he came in relief ofSam Howell, who was benched in the fourth quarter.[83] In the 28–20 loss, Brissett recorded 124 yards on eight passes and two touchdowns.[84] When Howell was benched a second time in the following game against theNew York Jets, Brissett came in the third quarter down by 20 points, and led 3 straight touchdown drives to take the lead.[85] They ended up losing 30–28, as he recorded ten passes for 100 yards and one touchdown.[86] On December 27, 2023, head coachRon Rivera announced that Brissett would be the team's starting quarterback for Week 17 against the 49ers.[87] However, Brissett injured his hamstring during practice and was later ruled out.[88]
On March 15, 2024, Brissett signed a one-year deal to return to the New England Patriots.[89] On August 29, head coachJerod Mayo named Brissett the starting quarterback over rookieDrake Maye to begin the season.[90] Brissett led the Patriots to an upset victory against the Bengals in the opening game of the season, winning 16–10.[91] However on October 8, after losing four straight games and continued struggles, Brissett was benched in favor of Maye.[92] In Week 8 against the Jets, Brissett made an appearance in relief of Maye, who exited the game in the second quarter due to a head injury. Brissett finished the game completing 15 of 24 passes for 132 yards, including leading a 70-yard game winning drive in the 25–22 win.[93] Brissett would remain inactive for all but two of the Patriots' remaining games.[94]
On March 14, 2025, Brissett signed a two-year, $12.5 million contract with theArizona Cardinals.[95] After an injury toKyler Murray, Brissett was named the starter for the Week 6 matchup against theIndianapolis Colts.[96] In his first start for the Cardinals, Brissett threw for 319 yards, 2 touchdowns, and one interception in the 31–27 loss.[97] The following week against theGreen Bay Packers, Murray was again ruled out, and Brissett threw for 279 yards and 2 touchdowns, but the Cardinals would fall 27–23.[98][99] In Week 9 against theDallas Cowboys, Brissett picked up his first win as a starter for the Cardinals, where he threw for 261 yards and two touchdowns while also rushing for one touchdown in the 27–17 win.[100] On November 5, it was announced that Brissett would remain the starter for the rest of the month as Murray was moved toinjured reserve.[101] On November 16, in a 41–22 loss against theSan Francisco 49ers, Brissett completed 47 of 57 passes for 452 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions, setting an NFL record for most pass completions in a regular season game.[102] The previous record of 45 completions was held byDrew Bledsoe (1994) andJared Goff (2019).[103] It is also the highest completion percentage on yards-per-attempt. The 452 yards marks the seventh most in a game in Cardinals history.[104] In the 2025 season, Brissett finished with 3,366 passing yards, 23 touchdowns, and eight interceptions to go with a rushing touchdown.[105]
^"About Me". Archived from the original on November 10, 2017. RetrievedNovember 9, 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
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