Brian Hoyer epitomizes what it means to be an NFL Journeyman. Hoyer has started for seven different teams, making him the second-most traveled QB in the league’s history.
There has to be a reason why a player such as Hoyer not only sticks around the NFL but also receives opportunities to start in almost a quarter of the league. Why do franchises trust Hoyer so much, and what type of player has he been throughout his football career?
Brian Hoyer: Two-Way Threat?
Hoyer was an outstanding two-sport superstar in high school, playing football and baseball for Saint Ignatius High School in Cleveland, Ohio. Some would argue that Hoyer’s greatest high school accomplishment came on the baseball diamond, as he led Saint Ignatius to the Ohio State Division I Championship as the winning pitcher.
It became apparent that Hoyer would pursue a football career following his senior season, as he was named an Associated Press All-State Division I selection, participating in both the Ohio All-Star Classic and Ohio-Pennsylvania Big 33 All-Star Game.
Brian Hoyer’s Collegiate Career
Hoyer’s collegiate career got off to a relatively slow start. He redshirted his first year on campus at Michigan State and played QB on the scout team.
In his redshirt freshman season, Hoyer played alongside fellow QB Drew Stanton. Stanton was the more highly regarded player and received more opportunities to play than Hoyer.
Hoyer began to take off during his junior season, throwing for 2,725 yards and 20 touchdowns. What defined Hoyer’s junior campaign — and what led him to a long football career — is consistency. During his junior year, Hoyer threw for 200 yards on six occasions.
Hoyer was the clear leader of the Spartans during his senior season and was considered a preseason candidate for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award. He continued his development and improved every year of his career at Michigan State.
Brian Hoyer’s Journeyman NFL Career
No one wants to be an NFL Journeyman. Most QBs wish to be a future Hall of Famer — the next Dan Marino or the next Tom Brady. The reality is this isn’t the path for most QBs, as most meander their way across the NFL terrain for a time.
Hoyer found a way to last in the NFL over the course of three decades. Yes, you read that correctly. Hoyer was undrafted coming out of Michigan State but latched on to the New England Patriots in 2009.
New England, as it turns out, was the perfect landing spot for Hoyer. The Patriots kept him as their primary backup to Brady. Hoyer learned at the knee of Bill Belichick and Brady and develop as a reliable NFL signal-caller.
The Patriots attempted to replace Hoyer when they drafted Ryan Mallett in the third round of the 2011 NFL Draft, but Hoyer held him off to remain Brady’s primary backup. Hoyer stayed with the Patriots until he signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2012.
The Steelers never started Hoyer, and the Arizona Cardinals signed the QB off waivers. Hoyer was on the move again. The Cardinals did need a stop-gap starter, so Hoyer was in the lineup for the team in the final game of the regular season.
In the offseason, the Cardinals released Hoyer, and the Cleveland Browns swooped in for his services. Starting QB Brandon Weeden went down due to injury, and Hoyer started again. Unfortunately, Hoyer suffered his own injury, damaging his ACL and ending his season.
Despite the Browns using a first-round draft pick on Johnny Manziel, Hoyer held off the rookie for the starting job the following season. Hoyer played well and exceeded expectations during his Cleveland tenure.
He also started for the Chicago Bears, San Francisco 49ers, and Indianapolis Colts. Hoyer made not one, not two, but three trips to New England to play for the Patriots.
Hoyer signed with the Las Vegas Raiders this offseason. What a strange and magical career it has been for Hoyer.