Jaren Hall Bio
Jaren Thomas Hall (born March 24, 1998) is an American former professional football quarterback. He played college football for the Brigham Young University (BYU) Cougars and was selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the fifth round of the 2023 National Football League (NFL) draft. During his college career, Hall became the first Black quarterback to start a game for BYU, a milestone in the program’s history. He went on to spend time with the Vikings, the Seattle Seahawks, and the Birmingham Stallions of the United Football League (UFL) before announcing his retirement in 2026.
Early Life and Background
Jaren Thomas Hall was born on March 24, 1998, in Spanish Fork, Utah, in the United States. He grew up in his hometown and attended Maple Mountain High School, where he developed into a talented quarterback. During his high school career, Hall threw for 5,109 passing yards and 52 touchdowns, drawing attention from college recruiters across the country.
Hall committed to Brigham Young University to play college football. Before enrolling, he served a two-year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Roseville, California, a common path for young members of the church. This period away from football helped shape his discipline and competitive mindset before he returned to the field.
Path to American Football
Hall’s path to professional football began at Maple Mountain High School, where his strong arm and production as a passer made him one of Utah’s most promising high school quarterbacks. His commitment to BYU gave him the chance to develop in a program that valued both athletic and personal growth. He split his time between football and BYU’s baseball team, playing for the Cougars’ baseball squad in 2019 and 2020 as well.
At BYU, Hall appeared in two games during his first year in 2018 and took a redshirt season. The following year, he played in seven games and made two starts as a backup to Zach Wilson, completing 31 of 46 passes for 420 yards and one touchdown. In that role, he became the first Black quarterback to start a game for BYU, taking the field against South Florida in place of the injured Wilson.
Jaren Hall Career
Early Career (2018–2020)
Hall’s early college years at BYU were about patience and development. He used his first year to learn the system, then served in a backup role in 2019 while learning behind Zach Wilson. After the 2020 season was limited by a medical redshirt, Hall was positioned to take over the starting job for the Cougars.
During these formative years, Hall balanced football with baseball, playing for BYU’s baseball team in 2019 and 2020. His time across two sports helped him build hand-eye coordination, competitive habits, and the kind of all-around athleticism that would later help him adjust to the speed of professional football.
BYU Breakthrough (2021–2022)
Hall took over as BYU’s starting quarterback in 2021 and delivered a strong debut season. He completed 189 of 296 passes for 2,583 yards, throwing 20 touchdowns against just five interceptions. His poise in the pocket and accuracy down the field showed he was ready to be the face of the Cougars’ offense.
As a starter, Hall continued to handle the responsibility of being a trailblazer at the program, drawing national attention for being the first Black quarterback to start a game for BYU. He played out his remaining eligibility through the 2022 season, finishing his college career as one of the more productive passers in BYU history.
Minnesota Vikings Era (2023–2024)
Hall was selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the fifth round, 164th overall, of the 2023 NFL draft. He began his rookie season in a backup role, but his first regular-season action came in Week 8 after Vikings starting quarterback Kirk Cousins suffered a torn Achilles tendon. Hall started his first NFL game on November 5, 2023, but exited early after suffering a concussion.
After clearing concussion protocol, Hall served as a backup to Joshua Dobbs and Nick Mullens. In Week 17, he started against the Green Bay Packers, completing five of ten passes for 67 yards with an interception and a lost fumble before being benched at halftime. In the 2024 preseason, Hall had a strong outing against the Philadelphia Eagles, completing 28 of 46 passes for 339 yards and four touchdowns with no interceptions. He was waived by the Vikings on August 29, 2024, to make room for Brett Rypien.
Seattle Seahawks Era (2024–2025)
On September 2, 2024, the Seattle Seahawks signed Hall to their practice squad. He was promoted to the active roster to serve as the team’s emergency third quarterback for games on December 1 against the New York Jets, December 14 against the Green Bay Packers, December 21 against the Minnesota Vikings, and December 26 against the Chicago Bears. Hall was released by the Seahawks on April 29, 2025.
Birmingham Stallions Era (2026)
On January 12, 2026, Hall signed with the Birmingham Stallions of the United Football League. He was removed from the team’s roster on January 26. On May 13, Hall announced his retirement from professional football on Instagram, closing a career that spanned college stardom, the NFL, and the UFL.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the defining milestones of Hall’s career came at BYU, when he became the first Black quarterback to start a game for the Cougars. At the NFL level, his first start on November 5, 2023, against the Atlanta Falcons marked his arrival as a professional, and his 2024 preseason performance against the Eagles, with four touchdown passes, served as a reminder of his arm talent. His brief stint in the UFL with the Birmingham Stallions added another chapter before he stepped away from the game in May 2026.
Jaren Hall Career Wins
Across his college and professional career, Jaren Thomas Hall built a record as a steady, accurate passer with flashes of big-play ability. He finished his BYU tenure as a multi-year starter and entered the NFL as a fifth-round pick with starting experience. At the professional level, his career statistics include 13 completions on 20 attempts for 168 passing yards, with a 65.0 percent completion rate, no touchdowns, one interception, and a 70.4 passer rating.
Jaren Hall Family
Personal Life
Jaren Thomas Hall married Breanna Hall in 2019, and the couple has been together through the different stages of his football journey. His marriage took place before he took over as BYU’s starting quarterback and well before his transition to the NFL. Hall is also a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, having served a two-year mission in Roseville, California, before his college career began.
Jaren Hall Family
Jaren Thomas Hall is married to Breanna Hall, his wife since 2019. He is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served a two-year mission in Roseville, California, before enrolling at BYU. Hall’s family life and faith have remained central parts of his identity throughout his football career.