Jacoby Brissett Bio
Jacoby JaJuan Brissett is an American professional football quarterback for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League (NFL). Standing 6 feet 4 inches tall and weighing 235 pounds, Brissett has built a reputation as a dependable, dual-threat passer during a career that has spanned multiple franchises. He is perhaps best known for serving as a steady bridge starter for the Indianapolis Colts and later for his record-setting 2025 campaign in Arizona.
Selected by the New England Patriots in the third round of the 2016 NFL Draft, Brissett has appeared in games for seven different organizations, including the Indianapolis Colts, Miami Dolphins, Cleveland Browns, Washington Commanders, and Arizona Cardinals. He earned a Super Bowl championship as a member of the Patriots’ Super Bowl LI roster and remains active in the league entering the 2025 season.
Early Life and Background
Jacoby JaJuan Brissett was born on December 11, 1992, in West Palm Beach, Florida. He grew up in the Palm Beach County area and attended William T. Dwyer High School in Palm Beach Gardens, where he developed into a highly regarded high school quarterback prospect.
During his high school career, Brissett attracted national recruiting attention for his combination of size, arm strength, and mobility. Rivals.com ranked him as a four-star recruit and the third-best dual-threat quarterback in his class. In February 2011, he committed to play college football at the University of Florida, choosing the Gators over several other scholarship offers.
Path to the NFL
Brissett began his college career at the University of Florida, where he spent two seasons as a Gator between 2011 and 2012. As a true freshman in 2011, he served as a backup before earning two starts, including a first career start against top-ranked LSU. He threw for 206 yards with two touchdowns and four interceptions across eight appearances that year, and added another start during his sophomore season in 2012.
In January 2013, Brissett transferred to North Carolina State University, where he sat out the 2013 season due to NCAA transfer rules. He then took over as the NC State Wolfpack’s starting quarterback for the 2014 season, passing for 2,606 yards with 23 touchdowns and five interceptions. As a senior in 2015, he posted 2,662 passing yards with 20 touchdowns and six interceptions, finishing his college career as one of the Wolfpack’s most productive passers.
Jacoby Brissett Career
Early Career (2016)
Brissett entered the NFL when the New England Patriots selected him in the third round with the 91st overall pick of the 2016 NFL Draft. He was the fifth quarterback taken that year and notably the only player selected in the draft who declined to hire an agent. On June 16, 2016, he signed a four-year rookie contract that he negotiated himself.
After serving as a backup early in the 2016 season, Brissett made his first regular-season appearance in Week 2 against the Miami Dolphins following an injury to starter Jimmy Garoppolo. The following week, he made his first career start against the Houston Texans, completing 11 of 19 passes for 103 yards while rushing for a 27-yard touchdown in a 27-0 Patriots victory. He became the first African-American quarterback to start for the Patriots. A thumb injury led to injured reserve, but Brissett returned to the active roster in December 2016 and was a member of the Super Bowl LI championship team.
Indianapolis Colts (2017–2020)
On September 2, 2017, Brissett was traded to the Indianapolis Colts in exchange for wide receiver Phillip Dorsett, stepping into a starting role after Andrew Luck’s injury. He earned his first victory with the Colts in Week 3 of that season against the Cleveland Browns, throwing for 259 yards and a touchdown. He went on to total 3,098 passing yards with 13 touchdowns and seven interceptions during the 2017 campaign.
After returning to a backup role in 2018, Brissett became the Colts’ full-time starter again in 2019 following Luck’s sudden retirement. He signed a two-year, $30 million contract that he negotiated himself and delivered a strong season with 2,942 passing yards and 18 passing touchdowns. In 2020, with Philip Rivers signed as the new starter, Brissett carved out a short-yardage relief role, scoring multiple rushing touchdowns and contributing to short-yardage packages.
Miami Dolphins (2021)
On March 18, 2021, Brissett signed a one-year contract with the Miami Dolphins to reunite with head coach Brian Flores. He appeared in six games for the Dolphins that season, finishing with 1,283 passing yards, five touchdowns, and four interceptions along with a rushing touchdown.
Cleveland Browns (2022)
Brissett joined the Cleveland Browns on March 25, 2022, agreeing to a one-year contract. With Deshaun Watson suspended for 11 games, Brissett was named the Week 1 starter and played every offensive snap in the Browns’ first 11 games. He led the team to a 4-7 record in those starts, throwing for 2,608 yards with 14 total touchdowns, completing 64 percent of his passes, and posting an 88.9 passer rating.
Washington Commanders (2023)
Brissett signed a one-year, $10 million contract with the Washington Commanders on March 16, 2023. He saw limited action in relief of Sam Howell late in the season, including a Week 16 appearance against the New York Jets where he led three consecutive touchdown drives to take the lead. A hamstring injury during practice ultimately prevented him from starting the season finale against the San Francisco 49ers.
New England Patriots Return (2024)
On March 15, 2024, Brissett signed a one-year deal to return to the New England Patriots and was named the starting quarterback by head coach Jerod Mayo over rookie Drake Maye. He opened the season with a 16-10 upset victory over the Cincinnati Bengals. After four consecutive losses, he was benched in favor of Maye in October, appearing primarily in relief roles for the remainder of the year.
Arizona Cardinals Era (2025–Present)
On March 14, 2025, Brissett signed a two-year, $12.5 million contract with the Arizona Cardinals. After an injury to Kyler Murray, he was elevated to the starting role for Week 6 against the Indianapolis Colts, throwing for 319 yards and two touchdowns in his first Cardinals start. He earned his first victory with the Cardinals in Week 9 against the Dallas Cowboys, throwing for 261 yards and two touchdowns while adding a rushing score in a 27-17 win.
Brissett’s most memorable performance came on November 16, 2025, in a 41-22 loss against the San Francisco 49ers, when he completed 47 of 57 passes for 452 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. That completion total set an NFL single-game record, surpassing the previous mark of 45 shared by Drew Bledsoe and Jared Goff. He closed the 2025 season with 3,366 passing yards, 23 touchdowns, and eight interceptions.
Driving Style and Strengths
Brissett is recognized for his dual-threat skill set, combining a strong arm with the mobility to extend plays and contribute as a runner. Throughout his career, he has shown comfort in both starting and relief roles, adapting his game to short-yardage packages when serving as a backup. His willingness to negotiate his own contracts and his professional approach have earned respect across multiple locker rooms.
Notable Events and Milestones
Brissett’s career highlights include becoming the first African-American quarterback to start for the New England Patriots in 2016, his Super Bowl LI championship as a member of the Patriots, and his record-setting 47 completions in a single regular-season game during the 2025 season. He also set a mark for the highest completion percentage on a yards-per-attempt basis during that same performance against San Francisco.
Jacoby Brissett Career Statistics
Across his professional career through the 2025 season, Brissett has totaled 14,766 passing yards with 76 touchdowns and 32 interceptions, completing 1,391 of 2,246 attempts for a 61.9 percent completion rate and an 86.4 passer rating. He has added 1,145 rushing yards and 16 rushing touchdowns as a consistent dual-threat contributor.
NFL Career Highlights
Brissett’s most productive single season came in 2017 with the Indianapolis Colts, when he passed for 3,098 yards and 13 touchdowns while serving as the team’s primary starter. He matched that production with the Arizona Cardinals in 2025, throwing for 3,366 yards and 23 touchdowns.
Other Performances and Achievements
Brissett earned AFC Offensive Player of the Week honors after throwing for 326 yards and four touchdowns in a Week 7 victory over the Houston Texans during the 2019 season. He also appeared in a Progressive Insurance advertising campaign alongside other longtime backup quarterbacks, reflecting his reputation as a reliable fill-in starter throughout the league.
Jacoby Brissett Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Limited public information is available regarding Brissett’s parents and immediate family background. He has largely kept his personal and family life private throughout his professional career.
Personal Life
Brissett has not publicly disclosed details regarding a spouse or children. Off the field, he has appeared in a Progressive Insurance advertising campaign featuring fellow backup quarterbacks, highlighting his standing among the league’s trusted reserve passers.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season marked a career-defining chapter for Jacoby Brissett with the Arizona Cardinals. After signing a two-year, $12.5 million contract in March 2025, he stepped into the starting lineup in Week 6 following an injury to Kyler Murray and delivered immediate production, highlighted by a 319-yard, two-touchdown debut against the Indianapolis Colts.
Brissett continued to produce throughout the fall, securing his first Cardinals victory against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 9 and posting the historic 47-completion, 452-yard performance against the San Francisco 49ers in November. He finished the year with 3,366 passing yards, 23 touchdowns, and eight interceptions, establishing himself as one of the most productive fill-in starters the league has seen.
Looking forward, Brissett’s contract runs through 2027, positioning him as a key component of the Cardinals’ quarterback room. His dual-threat ability, professional approach, and demonstrated productivity make him a strong candidate to remain a starter or high-value backup depending on Murray’s health and the team’s long-term plans.
