Skylar Thompson Bio
Skylar John Thompson (born June 4, 1997) is an American professional football quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Kansas State Wildcats and entered the league after being selected by the Miami Dolphins in the seventh round of the 2022 NFL draft. Thompson is recognized for his dual-threat skill set as a passer and runner, a profile he developed during a multi-year starting tenure at Kansas State.
Early Life and Background
Skylar John Thompson was born on June 4, 1997, in Palmyra, Missouri, to Brad Thompson and Teresa Thompson. He grew up alongside a close family network that included his grandfather, John Thompson, who passed away from pancreatic cancer in 2003. Thompson’s mother Teresa was diagnosed with stage-four breast cancer and died in 2004, when Thompson was just six years old. These early family losses shaped Thompson’s upbringing in the small Missouri community, where he developed an early interest in multiple sports.
Thompson attended Fort Osage High School in Independence, Missouri, where he distinguished himself as a four-year letterman and starting quarterback, punter, and kicker. As a senior, he threw for 2,129 yards on 142 passes with 26 touchdowns and only three interceptions, leading the Fort Osage Indians to a 13–1 record and a state championship title over Chaminade High School. In the state championship game, Thompson produced 455 yards of total offense and seven touchdowns, setting a state championship game record. Over his full high school career, he passed for 6,222 yards on 423 attempts, a 63 percent completion rate, with 72 touchdowns and nine interceptions.
In addition to football, Thompson lettered in basketball, baseball, and soccer, and was named Missouri All-State in both basketball and soccer during his high school years. He was rated a three-star recruit by ESPN and a four-star recruit by 247Sports, accepting a full-ride scholarship to Kansas State over offers from Illinois, Iowa State, Kansas, Louisville, North Dakota State, Ohio, Tulsa, UNLV, Wake Forest, and Wyoming.
Path to American Football
Thompson’s progression toward a professional football career began at Fort Osage High School, where his senior-season state championship performance elevated his recruiting profile. His scholarship offer list reflected interest from programs across multiple regions, and he ultimately chose Kansas State, where he could compete for a starting role in the Big 12 Conference. The decision allowed Thompson to continue refining his dual-threat quarterback skills while developing within a Power Five program.
After redshirting as a freshman and earning Scout Team Player of the Year honors, Thompson appeared in eight games with four starts during his first active season, throwing three touchdowns on 267 yards. The early exposure to college-level competition set the stage for his promotion to full-time starter as a sophomore and gave him a foundation for the records he would later set at Kansas State. His path from small-town Missouri high school standout to Power Five starting quarterback illustrates the steady trajectory that carried him to the NFL.
Skylar Thompson Career
Early Career (2016–2021)
Thompson’s college career at Kansas State spanned six seasons, marked by both individual production and persistent injury setbacks. After redshirting in 2016, he earned Scout Team Player of the Year recognition before contributing as a redshirt freshman. He was named the full-time starting quarterback as a sophomore and held that role through his senior year, though injuries frequently interrupted his seasons.
His sophomore campaign was disrupted by minor injuries, including a broken rib and a twisted ankle, and in 2020, Thompson was ruled out for the season after sustaining a serious upper-body injury against Texas Tech. In 2021, he was again injured in Week 3 against Southern Illinois, seeing limited time as a backup before returning full-time in Week 10. Despite the setbacks, Thompson finished his passing career at Kansas State with 7,134 yards on 552 attempts, a 63 percent completion rate, 42 touchdowns, and 16 interceptions, while adding 1,087 rushing yards and 26 rushing touchdowns. He holds the school record for best passer rating over 2,000 yards, and ranks second in career passing touchdowns, career passing yards, and total offensive yards for a quarterback in Kansas State history.
Miami Dolphins Era (2022–2024)
Entering the 2022 NFL draft, Thompson was projected by NFL.com as a possible undrafted free agent due to injury history, age, and inconsistent passing production. The Miami Dolphins selected him with the 247th overall pick in the seventh round. His strong preseason play, including ranking first among qualifying quarterbacks in passer rating (138.5) at the conclusion of the 2022 preseason, convinced the Dolphins to keep him on the 53-man roster, with head coach Mike McDaniel publicly noting the difficulty of leaving Thompson off the active roster.
Thompson made his NFL debut in Week 5 of the 2022 season against the New York Jets, entering after Teddy Bridgewater left with a concussion. He completed 19 of 33 passes for 166 yards and an interception in the 40–17 loss. On October 15, 2022, Thompson was announced as the Dolphins’ Week 6 starter against the Minnesota Vikings after both Tua Tagovailoa and Bridgewater entered concussion protocol; he sustained a thumb injury after completing 7 of 13 passes for 89 yards. On January 6, 2023, he started again in Week 18 against the Jets and completed 20 of 31 passes for 152 yards in an 11–6 win that clinched Miami’s first postseason appearance since 2016. Thompson then started the Wild Card Round game against the Buffalo Bills, throwing for 220 yards, a touchdown, and two interceptions in a 34–31 loss.
With Tagovailoa healthy, Thompson served as the third-string quarterback behind Mike White during the 2023 season and did not appear in any games. In 2024, he replaced Tagovailoa in Week 2 against the Bills after a concussion and started in Week 3 against the Seattle Seahawks before leaving with a rib injury. On December 14, 2024, Thompson was waived and re-signed to the practice squad three days later.
Pittsburgh Steelers Era (2025–Present)
On January 14, 2025, the Pittsburgh Steelers signed Thompson to a reserve/future contract, marking his transition to a new organization. The move provided Thompson with an opportunity to compete for a roster spot in a different quarterback room and continue his professional career after three seasons in Miami.
Driving Style and Strengths
Thompson is recognized as a dual-threat quarterback with proven production as both a passer and runner. At Kansas State, his career totals of 7,134 passing yards and 1,087 rushing yards reflected a balanced skill set, while his high school passing numbers showcased efficiency with 72 touchdowns against only nine interceptions. His preseason passer rating of 138.5 with the Dolphins highlighted his arm talent when operating in rhythm, complementing the mobility he demonstrated throughout his college career.
Notable Events and Milestones
Thompson’s career has featured several defining moments, including his record-setting 455-yard, seven-touchdown performance in the Missouri state championship game, his NFL debut against the Jets, and his Week 18 start in 2022 that clinched Miami’s first playoff berth since 2016. His career has also included significant personal adversity, beginning with the loss of his mother and grandfather during his childhood.
Skylar Thompson Career Wins
Skylar Thompson’s win ledger spans the high school, college, and professional levels. He led Fort Osage to a Missouri state championship in his senior season and contributed to multiple winning campaigns at Kansas State as the program’s starting quarterback. In the NFL, Thompson started and won the Week 18 game against the Jets in the 2022 season.
Miami Dolphins Highlights
Thompson’s most notable professional victory came on January 6, 2023, when he started against the New York Jets and helped the Dolphins secure an 11–6 win that clinched Miami’s first postseason appearance since 2016. The performance, in which he completed 20 of 31 passes for 152 yards, marked his second career NFL start and remains a career highlight from his time in Miami.
Other Wins and Performances
At the high school level, Thompson’s senior-year state championship stands as his most decorated achievement, capping a 13–1 campaign. At Kansas State, he was a full-time starter for multiple seasons and was recognized as one of the most productive quarterbacks in program history.
Skylar Thompson Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Skylar John Thompson was raised by Brad Thompson and Teresa Thompson in Palmyra, Missouri, alongside his grandfather, John Thompson. The family experienced significant loss early in Thompson’s life when his grandfather died of pancreatic cancer in 2003, followed by his mother’s death from stage-four breast cancer in 2004.
Personal Life
During Week 4 of the 2025 NFL season, when the Steelers traveled to Dublin, Ireland, to play the Minnesota Vikings, Thompson suffered minor injuries after being jumped and robbed on September 26, 2025.
2025 Season Performance
Thompson entered the 2025 season as a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers after signing a reserve/future contract in January 2025. His role with the Steelers placed him within a competitive quarterback room as the organization prepared for the new campaign.
A notable storyline of Thompson’s 2025 season occurred during the Steelers’ Week 4 trip to Dublin, where the team faced the Minnesota Vikings as part of the NFL’s international series. Following the game, Thompson was involved in an incident in which he suffered minor injuries on September 26, 2025.
Looking forward, Thompson’s outlook in Pittsburgh will depend on his continued development within the Steelers’ offensive system and his ability to stay healthy after a professional career frequently interrupted by injuries. His dual-threat profile and prior starting experience provide a foundation for potential contributions to the Steelers as the season progresses.