Jeff Driskel Bio
Jeffrey Matthew Driskel is an American professional football quarterback for the Washington Commanders of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Florida Gators and Louisiana Tech Bulldogs and was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the sixth round of the 2016 NFL draft. Throughout his pro career, Driskel has been a member of several other NFL teams, starting games for the Cincinnati Bengals, Detroit Lions, Denver Broncos, Arizona Cardinals, and Cleveland Browns.
Standing 6 feet 4 inches tall and listed at 231 pounds, Driskel has built a long career as a backup and spot starter who can also contribute with his legs. His path through the league has included brief stints on practice squads, position changes, and short-term contracts, reflecting the journeyman role many late-round quarterbacks take on.
Early Life and Background
Jeffrey Matthew Driskel was born on April 23, 1993, in Oviedo, Florida. He grew up in central Florida and attended Paul J. Hagerty High School in Oviedo, where he played both football and baseball. During his high school career, he threw for 4,844 yards and 36 touchdowns, putting himself on the radar of major college programs.
In 2010, Driskel was selected as a member of the Elite 11 quarterback competition, where he finished first among the participants and was awarded MVP honors. As a senior that year, he earned the Maxwell Football Club National High School Player of the Year award and was named the Gatorade Florida Player of the Year. He was also ranked as the best pro-style quarterback recruit in his class by both Rivals.com and Scout.com.
Path to American Football
Driskel accepted an athletic scholarship to attend the University of Florida, where he played for head coach Will Muschamp and the Florida Gators football team. As a freshman, he appeared in five games, completing 16 of 34 passes for 148 yards with two interceptions. He became the team’s starting quarterback as a sophomore in 2012 and led the Gators to an 11–2 record and a berth in the 2013 Sugar Bowl, where Florida lost to the Louisville Cardinals.
After starting three games in 2013, Driskel broke his right fibula in a game against Tennessee and missed the remainder of the season. He returned from the injury in 2014 and kept his starting job to begin the year, but was later benched in favor of Treon Harris. On January 3, 2015, Driskel was granted a release from Florida and transferred to Louisiana Tech University. In his lone season with the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs, he passed for 4,026 yards with 27 touchdowns and was recognized as the Conference USA Newcomer of the Year.
Jeff Driskel Career
Early Career (2016)
Driskel was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the sixth round of the 2016 NFL draft with the 207th overall pick. The pick had been acquired from the Denver Broncos in exchange for tight end Vernon Davis. On May 5, 2016, the 49ers signed him to a four-year, $2.45 million contract with a signing bonus of $112,539.
Driskel began training camp as the No. 4 quarterback on the San Francisco depth chart. After a season-ending injury to Thad Lewis, Driskel competed with Christian Ponder for the third-string quarterback position. On September 3, 2016, he was released by the 49ers as part of final roster cuts.
Cincinnati Bengals Era (2016–2018)
On September 4, 2016, Driskel was claimed off waivers by the Cincinnati Bengals and began the season as the team’s third-string quarterback behind veterans Andy Dalton and A. J. McCarron. He was placed on injured reserve on September 4, 2017, and was waived from injured reserve with an injury settlement in September 2019.
In Week 7 of the 2018 season, Driskel made his regular-season NFL debut in relief of Andy Dalton in the fourth quarter, completing all four of his pass attempts for 39 yards in a 45–10 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. In Week 12 against the Cleveland Browns, he entered after Dalton suffered a season-ending thumb injury and threw his first professional touchdown pass to wide receiver Tyler Boyd, adding a late rushing touchdown in a 35–20 loss. Driskel started the last five games of the season for the Bengals, finishing 1–4 with 764 passing yards, five touchdowns, and two interceptions.
Detroit Lions Era (2019)
On September 17, 2019, Driskel was signed by the Detroit Lions. In Week 10, he made his first start for the Lions against the Chicago Bears after Matthew Stafford was inactive due to injury, finishing with 269 passing yards, one touchdown, and one interception in a 20–13 loss. In Week 11 against the Dallas Cowboys, he threw for 209 yards and two touchdowns and added 51 rushing yards with a rushing touchdown in a 35–27 loss.
After a Week 12 loss to the Washington Redskins, Driskel was placed on injured reserve with a hamstring injury. Rookie David Blough started the remaining five regular-season games for Detroit.
Denver Broncos Era (2020)
On March 27, 2020, Driskel signed a two-year contract with the Denver Broncos. On September 20, he came in for injured starting quarterback Drew Lock during a Week 2 matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers, passing for 256 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception in relief of a 26–21 loss. In Week 3 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Driskel made his first start as a Bronco, throwing for 176 yards, one touchdown, and one interception before being benched in the fourth quarter of a 28–10 loss.
On November 26, 2020, Driskel was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list after testing positive for the virus, and he and three other quarterbacks were fined by the team for violating COVID-19 protocols. He was activated from the list on December 16 and was released by the Broncos on May 3, 2021.
Washington Commanders Era (2024–Present)
On April 1, 2024, Driskel signed with the Washington Commanders. He joined the team as a veteran backup quarterback and remained with the organization through the 2024 season. On September 1, 2025, he signed with the Las Vegas Raiders’ practice squad, was released on October 8, and then signed with the Arizona Cardinals’ practice squad on November 6. On December 22, 2025, the Commanders signed Driskel off of the Cardinals’ practice squad following an injury to Marcus Mariota, returning him to Washington.
Driving Style and Strengths
Driskel is a tall, athletic quarterback whose 6-foot-4 frame allows him to see over the offensive line. He has demonstrated mobility throughout his career, contributing 417 rushing yards and 3 rushing touchdowns in addition to his passing totals. His arm strength has been enough to start games in the NFL, and his experience in multiple offensive systems has made him a reliable short-term starter or relief option.
Notable Events and Milestones
Driskel’s first professional touchdown pass came with the Cincinnati Bengals in 2018 against the Cleveland Browns. He later earned his first NFL win as a starter with the Detroit Lions in 2019. He also briefly converted from quarterback to tight end with the Houston Texans in November 2021, adding to his positional versatility.
Jeff Driskel Career Wins
Jeff Driskel’s career as a professional quarterback has spanned multiple organizations, with playing time split between starting, relieving, and practice-squad roles. As of the 2025 season, his NFL career passing totals include 391 attempts, 229 completions, 2,394 yards, 16 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions, along with a 79.4 passer rating.
NFL Highlights
Driskel’s most extensive regular-season playing time came during the 2018 season with the Cincinnati Bengals, when he started five games and recorded 764 passing yards with five touchdowns and two interceptions. He also started three games for the Detroit Lions in 2019, highlighted by a 269-yard passing performance against the Chicago Bears in his first start.
Other Wins & Performances
Driskel was named Conference USA Newcomer of the Year in 2015 after his lone season at Louisiana Tech, where he passed for 4,026 yards and 27 touchdowns. At Hagerty High School, he was the Maxwell Football Club National High School Player of the Year and the Gatorade Florida Player of the Year in 2010.
Jeff Driskel Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Publicly available biographical sources do not detail Jeff Driskel’s parents or family background, so this section cannot be expanded with verified information.
Personal Life
Verified public records do not include a confirmed spouse, partner, or children for Jeff Driskel, so personal-life details beyond his name, birthplace, and residence are not reported here.
2025 Season Performance
Jeff Driskel began the 2025 NFL season out of the spotlight, moving between practice squads as teams carried him for quarterback depth. On September 1, 2025, he signed with the Las Vegas Raiders’ practice squad before being released on October 8. Shortly afterward, he joined the Arizona Cardinals’ practice squad on November 6, providing veteran experience behind the active roster.
On December 22, 2025, the Washington Commanders signed Driskel off of the Cardinals’ practice squad following an injury to Marcus Mariota, returning him to the team he joined in 2024. The move reinforced Washington’s quarterback room late in the regular season and positioned Driskel as an experienced backup option heading into the final stretch of the schedule.
Heading into the closing weeks of 2025, Driskel remains a depth piece whose value comes from his familiarity with NFL offenses, his willingness to play on short notice, and his track record of stepping in as a starter when needed.