Homecoming: Patriots Sign QB Jacoby Brissett
FOXBORO — As Jon Bon Jovi and Jennifer Nettles once sang, ‘Who says you can’t go home?”
The New England Patriots, per a Monday evening ESPN report, are signing former Washington Commanders —and most importantly ex-Patriots — quarterback Jacoby Brissett. NFL Network later confirmed the deal is for one year at $8 million.
Brissett began his NFL career as a third-round (No. 91 overall) by the Patriots in the 2016 NFL Draft. Since that time, the 31-year-old has appeared in 79 games, while starting in 48. He made two starts for New England in his rookie season in place of the injured Jimmy Garoppolo and suspended Tom Brady, while earning a championship ring for the Patriots 34-28 victory over the Atlanta Falcons in Super Bowl LI.
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The NC State product was traded to the Indianapolis Colts in the 2017 offseason. He spent his first two seasons in Indy as the backup to starter Andrew Luck and reserve Scott Tolzien, before ascending to the starting role after Luck’s unexpected retirement in 2019. He returned to a reserve spot when the team signed former Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers in 2020. In four years with the Colts, he completed 59.5 percent of his passes for 6059 yards and 31 touchdowns. He also ran for 500 yards and 11 rushing scores.
After a pair of one year stints with the Miami Dolphins (2021) and Cleveland Browns (2022) — where he earned then career-highs in completions percentage (64.0) and passer rating (88.9) — Brissett signed a one-year, $10 million contract with the Commanders last March. He served as Sam Howell’s primary backup until Week 15, when he relieved Washington’s starter against the Los Angeles Rams. Despite the team’s 28–20 loss, Brissett logged 124 yards on eight passes and two touchdowns in the fourth quarter. When Howell was benched a second time in the following game against the New York Jets, Brissett led three straight touchdown drives to erase a 20-point deficit. Though theteam eventually lost 30–28, the NC State product was impressive, completing 10 passes for 100 yards and one touchdown.
It appeared Brissett had won the starting job for Washington’s penultimate game in Week 17 when former coach Ron Rivera announced that he would get the nod against the San Francisco 49ers. However, Brissett injured his hamstring during practice and was later ruled out. He ultimately finished the season having completed 18 of 23 passes for 224 yards and three touchdowns.
Accordingly, Brissett will now serve as a potential bridge option for the Pats as the attempt to find their future franchise quarterback. Multiple reports have them taking a strong look at the quarterback position with their No. 3 overall selection. As a result, New England will remain linked to top positional options such as USC’s Caleb Williams, UNC’s Drake Maye and LSU’s Jayden Daniels. The team has also reportedly eyed Oregon’s Bo Nix and Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy.
The team also has third-year quarterback Bailey Zappe — who served as the team’s starter for their final six games of the season — along with veteran Nathan Rourke under contract at the position. The Pats agreed, on Sunday, to trade former 2021 first-rounder Mac Jones to the Jacksonville Jaguars for a sixth-round selection (No. 192) in April’s draft.
