Joshua Dobbs Bio
Robert Joshua Dobbs (born January 26, 1995), nicknamed “the Passtronaut,” is an American professional football quarterback for the New England Patriots of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Tennessee Volunteers and was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the fourth round of the 2017 NFL draft. Across his professional career, Dobbs has been a member of nine NFL teams, including serving as a starter for the Tennessee Titans, Arizona Cardinals, Minnesota Vikings, and San Francisco 49ers.
Standing 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighing approximately 220 pounds, Dobbs is recognized for his intellectual approach to the game, rooted in a degree in aerospace engineering from the University of Tennessee. His combination of mobility, arm talent, and academic distinction has made him one of the most distinctive journeyman quarterbacks in modern NFL history.
Early Life and Background
Joshua Dobbs was born and raised in Alpharetta, Georgia, the son of Stephanie and Robert Dobbs. His mother retired from United Parcel Service (UPS) as a region manager in corporate human resources, and his father retired as a senior vice president for Wells Fargo. The professional accomplishments of his parents helped shape a disciplined and focused household in the suburbs north of Atlanta.
Dobbs has alopecia areata, an autoimmune disease causing hair loss, which began when he was transitioning from elementary to junior high school. He has since become an advocate for awareness about the condition. Dobbs started playing football at age five, and he attended Wesleyan School before enrolling at Alpharetta High School. As a senior with the Alpharetta Raiders football team, he threw for 3,625 yards with 29 touchdowns and was awarded the Franklin D. Watkins Memorial Trophy as the top African-American high school athlete in the nation by the National Alliance of African American Athletes. Rated a three-star recruit by Rivals.com and a four-star by Scout.com, he initially committed to Arizona State University before changing his commitment to the University of Tennessee in February 2013.
Path to American Football
As a true freshman at the University of Tennessee in 2013, Joshua Dobbs played in five games with four starts after starter Justin Worley suffered an injury. His first career start came against the Missouri Tigers, where he completed 26-of-42 passes for 240 yards in a 31–3 loss. He finished his freshman season completing 72-of-121 passes for 695 yards, two touchdowns, and six interceptions while also rushing for 189 yards and a touchdown.
In 2014, Dobbs took over as Tennessee’s starter in November and produced a breakout performance against South Carolina, totaling 301 passing yards, two passing touchdowns, 166 rushing yards, and three touchdowns in a 45–42 overtime victory. He was named the 2015 TaxSlayer Bowl MVP after leading Tennessee to a 45–28 win over Iowa. During his sophomore season, he received two SEC Offensive Player of the Week honors. Across his college career, Dobbs majored in aerospace engineering, was presented with the 2017 Torchbearer Award, the highest undergraduate honor at the University of Tennessee, and was inducted into Omicron Delta Kappa in 2016.
Joshua Dobbs Career
Early Career (2017–2019)
The Pittsburgh Steelers selected Joshua Dobbs in the fourth round (135th overall) of the 2017 NFL draft, making him the seventh quarterback chosen that year. He signed a four-year, $2.95 million contract and spent his rookie season behind Ben Roethlisberger and Landry Jones. Dobbs made his NFL debut in Week 5 of the 2018 season against the Atlanta Falcons, taking a knee to close out a 41–17 victory. He finished 2018 with 43 passing yards and an interception in five games without a start.
On September 9, 2019, Dobbs was traded to the Jacksonville Jaguars for a fifth-round pick in the 2020 NFL draft after Mason Rudolph won the Steelers’ backup job. While in Jacksonville, he participated in an internship at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, reflecting his aerospace engineering background. He was waived by the Jaguars on September 5, 2020.
Pittsburgh Steelers Breakthrough (2020–2021)
On September 6, 2020, Dobbs was claimed off waivers by the Pittsburgh Steelers. He appeared in one game during the 2020 season and re-signed with the Steelers on a one-year contract on April 19, 2021. He was placed on injured reserve on August 31, 2021, limiting his on-field contributions during his second stint in Pittsburgh.
Cleveland Browns and Tennessee Titans (2022)
Joshua Dobbs signed a one-year, $1 million deal with the Cleveland Browns on April 9, 2022, and was waived on November 28 after Deshaun Watson returned from suspension. He was signed to the Detroit Lions’ practice squad on December 5, 2022, before being signed by the Tennessee Titans off that practice squad on December 21, 2022.
With Ryan Tannehill out for the season and rookie Malik Willis struggling, Dobbs was named the starter for Week 17 against the Dallas Cowboys. In his first NFL start, he completed 20-of-39 passes for 232 yards, his first career touchdown pass, and an interception in a 27–13 loss. He started the Week 18 game against the Jaguars, completing 20-of-29 passes for 179 yards, a touchdown, and an interception, but a late fumble returned for a touchdown cost Tennessee a playoff spot in a 20–16 defeat.
Arizona Cardinals and Minnesota Vikings (2023)
On August 24, 2023, Joshua Dobbs was traded to the Arizona Cardinals along with a seventh-round pick in the 2024 NFL draft in exchange for a fifth-round pick. He entered the 2023 season as Arizona’s starting quarterback with Kyler Murray on injured reserve. On September 24, he led the Cardinals to a 28–16 upset over the previously undefeated Dallas Cowboys. He finished his Cardinals tenure with 1,569 passing yards, eight touchdowns, and five interceptions, along with 258 rushing yards and three touchdowns, going 1–7 as a starter.
On October 31, 2023, after Kirk Cousins suffered a season-ending Achilles injury, the Cardinals traded Dobbs to the Minnesota Vikings. On November 5 against the Atlanta Falcons, he entered the game mid-contest and threw for 158 yards with three total touchdowns in a 31–28 comeback victory, earning NFC Player of the Week honors. He became the first quarterback in NFL history to record three touchdowns in consecutive games while playing for different teams. He was later benched and demoted to third string after struggles against the Denver Broncos, Chicago Bears, and Las Vegas Raiders.
San Francisco 49ers Era (2024)
On March 19, 2024, Joshua Dobbs signed a one-year contract with the San Francisco 49ers. He spent most of the season as the third-string quarterback behind Brock Purdy and Brandon Allen. He saw his first action in Week 17 against the Detroit Lions, throwing for 35 yards and rushing for a seven-yard touchdown in a 40–34 loss. With the 49ers eliminated from playoff contention, he started the season finale against the Cardinals, throwing for 326 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions while rushing for 17 yards and a touchdown in a 47–24 defeat.
New England Patriots Era (2025–Present)
On March 18, 2025, Joshua Dobbs signed a two-year, $8 million contract with the New England Patriots, his ninth NFL team, to serve as the backup behind Drake Maye. The deal underscored his value as a reliable and experienced reserve who can step in as a starter when required.
Driving Style and Strengths
Joshua Dobbs is best known for his dual-threat capabilities, combining efficient downfield passing with the mobility to escape pressure and produce on the ground. His aerospace engineering training informs a measured, analytical approach to reading defenses, and he has built a reputation for staying composed in chaotic game situations, including the 2023 game against Atlanta in which he rehearsed his cadence with the offensive line during the contest itself.
Notable Events and Milestones
A signature moment came in 2023 when Dobbs became the first NFL quarterback to record three touchdowns in consecutive games for two different teams, an achievement that earned him NFC Player of the Week honors. He was also awarded the Franklin D. Watkins Memorial Trophy in high school, the 2015 TaxSlayer Bowl MVP, the 2016 President’s Award from the Touchdown Club of Columbus, and the 2017 Torchbearer Award, the highest undergraduate honor at the University of Tennessee.
Joshua Dobbs Career Wins
Across stops with the Tennessee Titans, Arizona Cardinals, and Minnesota Vikings, Joshua Dobbs has delivered several notable starting wins, including Arizona’s upset of the previously undefeated Dallas Cowboys and Minnesota’s dramatic comeback against the Atlanta Falcons. While his overall win totals as a starter remain modest, his impact in single-game performances has been widely recognized.
NFL Starting Wins Highlights
Dobbs earned his first NFL starting victory with the Arizona Cardinals on September 24, 2023, defeating the Dallas Cowboys 28–16 in a game in which the Cardinals were heavy underdogs. With the Minnesota Vikings, he guided the team to a memorable 31–28 comeback win over the Atlanta Falcons, throwing for 158 yards and three total touchdowns without taking a single practice repetition with the team.
Other Wins and Performances
At the college level, Joshua Dobbs led Tennessee to two consecutive 9–4 records, including victories over rivals Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina. His Hail Mary touchdown pass to Jauan Jennings against Georgia in 2016, often called the “Dobbs-Nail Boot,” stands as one of the most memorable finishes in Volunteers history. He was also named MVP of both the 2015 TaxSlayer Bowl and the 2016 Music City Bowl.
Joshua Dobbs Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Joshua Dobbs comes from a professionally accomplished family. His mother, Stephanie Dobbs, retired from United Parcel Service as a region manager in corporate human resources, and his father, Robert Dobbs, retired as a senior vice president for Wells Fargo. The family raised Joshua in Alpharetta, Georgia, where his parents emphasized education and discipline alongside athletics.
Personal Life
Dobbs is a Christian and has spoken about the most important day in his life being the day he was baptized while in high school. He is the founder of the ASTROrdinary Dobbs Foundation, an organization tied to his interest in aerospace and his personal experience with alopecia. He has a cousin, Parker Washington, who plays wide receiver for the Jacksonville Jaguars, and another cousin, Tyler Tolbert, who is a professional baseball player for the Kansas City Royals. As a longtime backup quarterback, Dobbs also appeared in a Progressive Insurance advertising campaign featuring other such players.
2025 Season Performance
Joshua Dobbs entered the 2025 season as the backup quarterback for the New England Patriots behind second-year starter Drake Maye. Signed to a two-year, $8 million contract in March 2025, Dobbs provides experienced depth at the most important position on the roster. His preparation and leadership have been cited as valuable assets in the Patriots’ quarterback room.
Throughout the early portion of the 2025 season, Dobbs has continued his role as a steady reserve, ready to step in when called upon. His history of producing in relief, most notably with the Minnesota Vikings in 2023, has given the Patriots confidence in their contingency plan at quarterback.
Looking ahead, Dobbs is positioned to remain a stabilizing presence in New England’s offense through the 2026 season, with the final year of his current contract running through 2027. His combination of athletic ability, intellectual preparation, and veteran poise makes him an ideal bridge for the Patriots’ developing roster.