Jacoby Brissett Bio
Jacoby JaJuan Brissett is an American professional football quarterback for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League (NFL). A third-round pick in the 2016 NFL draft by the New England Patriots, Brissett has spent his career as both a starter and a trusted backup across multiple organizations. He earned a Super Bowl championship ring as a member of the Patriots during his rookie season in 2016. Standing 6 feet 4 inches tall and weighing 235 pounds, Brissett is known for his strong arm, steady leadership, and self-negotiated contracts.
After his rookie year, Brissett was traded to the Indianapolis Colts, where he became a primary starter in 2017 and again in 2019 after Andrew Luck’s surprise retirement. Over the next four seasons, he served as a starter or backup with the Miami Dolphins, Cleveland Browns, Washington Commanders, and Patriots. In March 2025, he signed a two-year contract with the Arizona Cardinals and took over the starting duties following an injury to Kyler Murray.
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 area and attended William T. Dwyer High School in Palm Beach Gardens, where he played quarterback and drew early attention from college recruiters. Rivals.com rated him as a four-star recruit and ranked him as the third-best dual-threat quarterback in his class.
His performance at Dwyer High School earned him a reputation as a tough, mobile passer with a strong arm. In February 2011, Brissett committed to play college football at the University of Florida, choosing the Gators over several other scholarship offers. His upbringing along the southeastern Florida coast shaped his early development as a quarterback accustomed to high-pressure environments.
Path to American Football
Brissett enrolled at the University of Florida in 2011 and immediately joined the Gators football program. As a true freshman, he served as a backup to starter John Brantley before earning his first two career starts in October 2011 following an injury to Brantley. His first collegiate start came against top-ranked LSU, a difficult introduction that gave him early exposure to elite competition.
Entering his sophomore season, Brissett competed with Jeff Driskel for the Gators’ starting job and started the opening game against Bowling Green. Limited opportunities throughout the rest of the year prompted him to transfer to North Carolina State in January 2013. After sitting out the 2013 season due to NCAA transfer rules, Brissett became the Wolfpack’s full-time starting quarterback in 2014 and held that role through his senior year, finishing his NC State career with thousands of passing yards and multiple touchdown seasons.
Jacoby Brissett Career
Early Career (2016)
Brissett was selected by the New England Patriots in the third round with the 91st overall pick of the 2016 NFL draft, becoming the fifth quarterback taken that year. Notably, he was the only player selected in the 2016 draft who declined to hire an agent, choosing instead to negotiate his own four-year rookie contract on June 16, 2016. He made his regular-season debut on September 18, 2016, against the Miami Dolphins after Jimmy Garoppolo left with a shoulder injury.
The following week, Brissett earned his first career start against the Houston Texans and became the first African-American quarterback to start for the Patriots. A thumb injury and subsequent surgery led to a stint on injured reserve, and he was inactive for the remainder of the season, including Super Bowl LI, which the Patriots won 34–28 over the Atlanta Falcons. As a member of that championship roster, Brissett earned a Super Bowl ring.
Indianapolis Colts Breakthrough (2017–2020)
On September 2, 2017, Brissett was traded to the Indianapolis Colts for wide receiver Phillip Dorsett after Andrew Luck went down with an injury. He started his first game with the Colts against the Arizona Cardinals and threw for 216 yards, though the Colts fell in overtime. His first victory as a Colt came on September 24, 2017, against the Cleveland Browns, when he threw for 259 yards and a touchdown and added two rushing scores.
Overall, in the 2017 season, Brissett posted 3,098 passing yards, 13 passing touchdowns, and seven interceptions, while adding 260 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns. He returned to a backup role in 2018 with Luck healthy again. Following Luck’s sudden August 2019 retirement, Brissett was named the full-time starter and signed a two-year, $30 million contract extension with $20 million guaranteed, once again negotiating the deal on his own.
Miami Dolphins Era (2021)
On March 18, 2021, Brissett signed a one-year contract with the Miami Dolphins, reuniting him with head coach Brian Flores from his Patriots days. He assumed a significant role in six games during the 2021 season, including a Week 3 start against the Las Vegas Raiders after Tua Tagovailoa suffered a rib injury. Brissett finished the season with 1,283 passing yards, five passing touchdowns, and four interceptions, while adding a rushing touchdown.
Cleveland Browns Era (2022)
Brissett signed a one-year deal with the Cleveland Browns on March 25, 2022. Following Deshaun Watson’s suspension, Brissett was named the Week 1 starter and played every offensive snap in each of the Browns’ first eleven games. He led the team to a 4–7 record during that stretch, throwing for 2,608 passing yards and 14 total touchdowns while completing 64 percent of his passes for an 88.9 passer rating, both career highs at the time.
Washington Commanders Era (2023)
On March 16, 2023, Brissett signed a one-year, $10 million contract with the Washington Commanders. He played in relief of Sam Howell on multiple occasions during the 2023 season, including a late-game appearance against the Los Angeles Rams in which he threw for 124 yards and two touchdowns. He was later named the starter for Week 17 against the San Francisco 49ers but was ruled out after injuring his hamstring during practice.
New England Patriots Return (2024)
Brissett returned to the New England Patriots on a one-year deal signed March 15, 2024. On August 29, head coach Jerod Mayo named him the starting quarterback over rookie Drake Maye to open the season. Brissett led the Patriots to a 16–10 upset victory over the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 1 but was benched in October after a four-game losing streak.
Arizona Cardinals Era (2025–Present)
On March 14, 2025, Brissett signed a two-year, $12.5 million contract with the Arizona Cardinals. He was named the starter for Week 6 against the Indianapolis Colts after Kyler Murray was injured, and in his first Cardinals start he threw for 319 yards and two touchdowns. The following week against the Green Bay Packers, he added 279 yards and two more touchdowns.
In Week 9 against the Dallas Cowboys, Brissett earned his first win as a Cardinals starter, throwing for 261 yards and two touchdowns and rushing for another score in a 27–17 victory. On November 16, 2025, in a 41–22 loss to the San Francisco 49ers, he completed 47 of 57 passes for 452 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions, setting an NFL record for most completions in a regular-season game. Murray was later moved to injured reserve, and Brissett was announced as the starter for the remainder of November 2025.
Driving Style and Strengths
Brissett is regarded as a sturdy, dual-threat quarterback with a strong arm, mobility in the pocket, and the poise to manage pressure. He has consistently produced efficient passer ratings when given extended opportunities, and his willingness to negotiate his own contracts reflects a business-minded approach to his career.
Notable Events and Milestones
Brissett’s most celebrated milestone came as a rookie member of the 2016 Super Bowl champion Patriots. He also became the first African-American quarterback to start for New England in 2016, and in 2025 he set the NFL single-game record for pass completions with 47 in a loss to the San Francisco 49ers.
Jacoby Brissett Career Wins
Jacoby JaJuan Brissett has recorded meaningful victories across multiple NFL stops, including his first NFL start against the Houston Texans in 2016, his debut win with the Indianapolis Colts over the Cleveland Browns in 2017, and his first Arizona Cardinals victory against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 9 of 2025.
Indianapolis Colts Highlights
During the 2017 season, Brissett led the Colts to several victories, including wins over the Cleveland Browns, San Francisco 49ers, and Houston Texans. His dual-threat production that season, with 3,098 passing yards, 13 passing touchdowns, and four rushing scores, marked his first extended run as an NFL starter.
Cleveland Browns Highlights
In 2022, Brissett guided the Cleveland Browns through the first eleven games of the season, producing career-best passing numbers before returning to a backup role once Deshaun Watson was ready to play.
New England Patriots Highlights
Brissett opened the 2024 season with a 16–10 upset win over the Cincinnati Bengals in his return to New England. Later that year, he came on in relief of Drake Maye against the New York Jets and led a 70-yard game-winning drive in a 25–22 victory.
Arizona Cardinals Highlights
Brissett’s first win as a Cardinals starter came in Week 9 of 2025 against the Dallas Cowboys, a 27–17 decision in which he passed for two touchdowns and added a rushing score.
Jacoby Brissett Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Publicly verified details about Jacoby JaJuan Brissett’s immediate family and parents are not available in supported sources.
Personal Life
Brissett has appeared in Progressive Insurance advertising campaigns alongside other longtime NFL backup quarterbacks. Additional verified details about his spouse, children, or marital status are not available in supported sources.
2025 Season Performance
Jacoby JaJuan Brissett’s 2025 campaign began as a backup before an injury to Kyler Murray thrust him into the Arizona Cardinals’ starting lineup in Week 6. He immediately produced strong individual numbers, throwing for 319 yards against the Indianapolis Colts and following that with another 279-yard, two-touchdown performance against the Green Bay Packers.
His first win as a Cardinals starter arrived in Week 9 against the Dallas Cowboys, a 27–17 victory in which he passed for 261 yards and two touchdowns and added a rushing score. Brissett’s signature outing came on November 16, 2025, when he set an NFL single-game record with 47 completions on 57 attempts for 452 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions against the San Francisco 49ers.
Following that game, head coach Jonathan Gannon and the Cardinals announced that Brissett would remain the starter for the rest of November 2025 as Murray was placed on injured reserve. With the Cardinals competing for playoff positioning, Brissett’s steady play and efficient distribution of the football position him as a stabilizing veteran presence under center for the remainder of the season.