New York Jets fans tuning into Thursday night’s Hall of Fame Game shouldn’t plan on seeing Aaron Rodgers, who won’t play in the first game of the exhibition season. But journeyman NFL quarterback Chris Streveler should be expected to see action as he fights for a roster spot with Gang Green.
Chris Streveler’s Journey From the CFL to the NFL
Streveler spent three seasons (2013-15) with the University of Minnesota, but he was used more as a runner than a passer. He carried the ball 40 times for the Golden Gophers while attempting just 11 passes.
Streveler transferred to the University of South Dakota in 2016, winning the Missouri Valley Football Conference’s Newcomer of the Year award in his first season with the team.
In 2017, Streveler was named a first-team FCS All-American while earning the MVFC’s Offensive Player of the Year award. He also finished second in voting for the Walter Payton Award, the FCS version of the Heisman Trophy. All told, Streveler threw for over 6,000 yards and tossed 54 touchdowns over two seasons with South Dakota.
After going undrafted in the 2018 NFL Draft, Streveler signed with the Winnipeg Bombers of the Canadian Football League. Injuries ahead of Streveler pushed him into the starting lineup for Week 1, when he became the first CFL quarterback to start a game directly out of college since 1994.
Streveler was pushed back to reserve duty when Bombers starter Mike Nichols returned from injury, and Nichols was again Winnipeg’s starter heading into the 2019 season. After Nichols got hurt again, Streveler made eight starts, throwing for more than 1,500 yards while adding 726 more on the ground.
Streveler’s dual-threat ability made him attractive to NFL teams. In Feb. 2020, the Bombers released him from his contract so he could pursue a deal with the Cardinals.
After handling a single rushing attempt in Week 1 of the 2020 campaign, Streveler came in for an injured Kyler Murray in Week 17. He completed 11 of 16 passes for 105 yards, one touchdown, and one interception in a loss to the Rams.
Streveler was with the Cardinals until being cut in Nov. 2021. From there, he bounced around the league, spending time with the Ravens and Dolphins until signing with the Jets in July 2022.
In Week 16, Streveler replaced Zach Wilson against the Jaguars, passing for 90 yards and rushing for 54 in an eventual defeat.
“We’re trying to change up, to get the run game going,” Jets head coach Robert Saleh said. “Obviously, I know Zach was struggling, but Streveler came in, ran a couple of plays, sparked the offense, got the explosive play, and so it just snowballed and in a good way for Strev. And so, we just wanted to give an opportunity to try to finish that drive.”
Streveler signed a reserve/futures contract with New York in January. He’s squarely fourth on the Jets’ depth chart behind Rodgers, Wilson, and Tim Boyle, but his prowess as a runner will continue to intrigue NFL clubs.
