Brian Hoyer
Encyclopedia
Brian Hoyer is an American football
quarterback
for the New England Patriots
of the National Football League
(NFL). He was signed by the Patriots as an undrafted free agent in 2009. He played college football
at Michigan State
.
, the same high school that Brian Dowling, another Patriots quarterback, attended. In addition to playing football, Hoyer was a baseball pitcher, infielder and outfielder. In 2002, he compiled an 8-1 record with a 1.99 ERA as a sophomore. He was the winning pitcher in the 2002 Ohio Division I state championship game allowing 2 earned runs in 6 innings pitched. Hoyer was also a member of the junior varsity swim team competing in both the butterfly and backstroke.
Hoyer compiled a 16-7 record (.696) as a two-year starter for Coach Chuck Kyle. In 2002, he completed 131 of 263 passes (.498) for 2,130 yards, 18 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. In 2003, he completed 258-of-412 passes for 5,570 yards, 45 touchdowns and 15 interceptions while leading his team to a 11-1 record. He was named USA Today Prep Player of the Week for his performance against Shaker Heights High School. Hoyer was an Associated Press Division I all-state selection as a senior. Hoyer participated in the 2004 Ohio All-Star Classic and the July 24 Ohio-Pennsylvania Big 33 All-Star Game
.
in 2004, where he earned Scout Team Offensive Player of the Week honors twice. In 2005, he saw action in 5 games, where he completed 15 of 23 passes (.652) for 167 yards and two touchdowns. In a game against Illinois
, he combined with Drew Stanton
to throw seven touchdown passes, which tied the Big Ten single-game record. In 2006, he played in eight games and completed 82 of 144 passes for 863 yards, had four touchdowns and three interceptions. In 2007, Hoyer was an honorable mention All-Big Ten selection. He completed 223 of 376 throws (.593) for 2,725 yards, 20 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. He had six 200-yard passing games. He was listed among 26 preseason candidates for the 2008 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award
, which is presented annually to the nation's top senior quarterback.
. He signed immediately after the draft with the New England Patriots.
Hoyer debuted in the Patriots' preseason game against the Cincinnati Bengals
, completing 11 of 19 passes for 112 yards. In the preseason finale against the New York Giants
, Hoyer played at quarterback the entire game, leading the team on a comeback after trailing 21–0 in the first quarter to a 38–27 win, completing 18 of 25 passes for 242 yards, one touchdown, and no interceptions.
Hoyer finished the preseason 29-44 for 354 yards, including 1 touchdown, with a 98.1 passer rating
, which ranked 30th among quarterbacks.
Of the four quarterbacks behind Tom Brady
during training camp, the Patriots released Matt Gutierrez
, Kevin O'Connell
, and Andrew Walter
, leaving Hoyer as Brady's only backup when the Patriots made their final cutdowns on September 5.
He made his professional debut on October 18, in the second half of game against the Tennessee Titans
. On his first drive, he was 5/5 for 35 yards, concluding it with a 1-yard rushing touchdown, which set a franchise record for points scored in the Patriots' 59-0 win.
, throwing his first career interception. In Week 17, against the Miami Dolphins
, he threw a 42-yard touchdown pass to Brandon Tate
, the first touchdown of Hoyer's NFL career.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
for the New England Patriots
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
(NFL). He was signed by the Patriots as an undrafted free agent in 2009. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Michigan State
Michigan State Spartans football
The Michigan State Spartans football program represents Michigan State University in college football as members of the Big Ten Conference at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level...
.
Early years
Hoyer attended Saint Ignatius High School in Cleveland, OhioCleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
, the same high school that Brian Dowling, another Patriots quarterback, attended. In addition to playing football, Hoyer was a baseball pitcher, infielder and outfielder. In 2002, he compiled an 8-1 record with a 1.99 ERA as a sophomore. He was the winning pitcher in the 2002 Ohio Division I state championship game allowing 2 earned runs in 6 innings pitched. Hoyer was also a member of the junior varsity swim team competing in both the butterfly and backstroke.
Hoyer compiled a 16-7 record (.696) as a two-year starter for Coach Chuck Kyle. In 2002, he completed 131 of 263 passes (.498) for 2,130 yards, 18 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. In 2003, he completed 258-of-412 passes for 5,570 yards, 45 touchdowns and 15 interceptions while leading his team to a 11-1 record. He was named USA Today Prep Player of the Week for his performance against Shaker Heights High School. Hoyer was an Associated Press Division I all-state selection as a senior. Hoyer participated in the 2004 Ohio All-Star Classic and the July 24 Ohio-Pennsylvania Big 33 All-Star Game
Big 33 Football Classic
The Big 33 Football Classic is an all-star American football game featuring the top high-school football players in Pennsylvania. Played since 1957, the game is often described as the "Super Bowl of High School Football." The last 14 contests have pitted players from Pennsylvania against players...
.
College career
Hoyer was redshirted by Michigan State UniversityMichigan State University
Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...
in 2004, where he earned Scout Team Offensive Player of the Week honors twice. In 2005, he saw action in 5 games, where he completed 15 of 23 passes (.652) for 167 yards and two touchdowns. In a game against Illinois
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
The University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign is a large public research-intensive university in the state of Illinois, United States. It is the flagship campus of the University of Illinois system...
, he combined with Drew Stanton
Drew Stanton
Drew Emeric Stanton is a quarterback for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League. He played collegiately for the Michigan State Spartans.-Early life:...
to throw seven touchdown passes, which tied the Big Ten single-game record. In 2006, he played in eight games and completed 82 of 144 passes for 863 yards, had four touchdowns and three interceptions. In 2007, Hoyer was an honorable mention All-Big Ten selection. He completed 223 of 376 throws (.593) for 2,725 yards, 20 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. He had six 200-yard passing games. He was listed among 26 preseason candidates for the 2008 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award
Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award
The Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award is given annually in the United States to the nation's outstanding senior quarterback in college football. It was established in 1987 by a foundation named for Johnny Unitas , the Hall of Fame quarterback who played his college career at the University of...
, which is presented annually to the nation's top senior quarterback.
2009 season
Despite being invited to the NFL Scouting Combine, Hoyer was not selected in the 2009 NFL Draft2009 NFL Draft
The 2009 NFL Draft was the seventy-fourth annual meeting of National Football League franchises to select newly eligible football players. The draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 25 and 26, 2009. The draft consisted of two rounds on the first day starting at 4:00...
. He signed immediately after the draft with the New England Patriots.
Hoyer debuted in the Patriots' preseason game against the Cincinnati Bengals
Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals are a professional football team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the AFC's North Division in the National Football League . The Bengals began play in 1968 as an expansion team in the American Football League , and joined the NFL in 1970 in the AFL-NFL...
, completing 11 of 19 passes for 112 yards. In the preseason finale against the New York Giants
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
, Hoyer played at quarterback the entire game, leading the team on a comeback after trailing 21–0 in the first quarter to a 38–27 win, completing 18 of 25 passes for 242 yards, one touchdown, and no interceptions.
Hoyer finished the preseason 29-44 for 354 yards, including 1 touchdown, with a 98.1 passer rating
Passer rating
Passer rating is a measure of the performance of quarterbacks or any other passers in American football and Canadian football. There are at least two formulae currently in use: one officially used by the National Football League and the Canadian Football League, and one used in college football...
, which ranked 30th among quarterbacks.
Of the four quarterbacks behind Tom Brady
Tom Brady
Thomas Edward Patrick "Tom" Brady, Jr. is an American football quarterback for the New England Patriots of the National Football League . After playing college football at Michigan, Brady was drafted by the Patriots in the sixth round of the 2000 NFL Draft.He has played in four Super Bowls,...
during training camp, the Patriots released Matt Gutierrez
Matt Gutierrez
Matthew Paul Gutierrez is an American football quarterback who is currently a member of the Arizona Rattlers of the Arena Football League. He was signed by the New England Patriots as an undrafted free agent in 2007...
, Kevin O'Connell
Kevin O'Connell (American football)
Kevin William O'Connell is an American football quarterback for the New York Jets of the National Football League. He was drafted by the New England Patriots in the third round of the 2008 NFL Draft...
, and Andrew Walter
Andrew Walter
Andrew Scott Walter is a former American football quarterback in National Football League. He was drafted by the Oakland Raiders in the third round of the 2005 NFL Draft after playing college football at Arizona State....
, leaving Hoyer as Brady's only backup when the Patriots made their final cutdowns on September 5.
He made his professional debut on October 18, in the second half of game against the Tennessee Titans
Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Previously known as the Houston Oilers, the team began play in 1960 as a charter...
. On his first drive, he was 5/5 for 35 yards, concluding it with a 1-yard rushing touchdown, which set a franchise record for points scored in the Patriots' 59-0 win.
2010 season
Hoyer entered the 2010 preseason as Brady's only backup. During the preseason, Hoyer completed 32 of 57 passes for 471 yards and three touchdowns, with one interception and four sacks. He saw his first action of the regular season late in a 34–14 loss to the Cleveland BrownsCleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, throwing his first career interception. In Week 17, against the Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, he threw a 42-yard touchdown pass to Brandon Tate
Brandon Tate
-2009 season:Tate was drafted by the Patriots in the third round of the 2009 NFL Draft. On July 16, he was signed to a four-year contract with a $755,000 signing bonus. He began the 2009 season on the non-football injury list, still recovering from his knee injury from the prior season. He was...
, the first touchdown of Hoyer's NFL career.
Statistics
| Year | |G | |Passing | |Rushing | |Sacked | |Fumbles | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Att | Comp | Pct | Yds | Y/A | TD | Int | Rtg | Att | Yds | Avg | TD | Sack | Yds | Fum | Lost | ||||
| 2009 2009 NFL season The 2009 NFL season was the 90th regular season of the National Football League.The preseason started with the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game on August 9, 2009, and the regular season began September 10. The season ended with Super Bowl XLIV, the league's championship game, on February 7, 2010 at... | NE 2009 New England Patriots season The 2009 New England Patriots season was the 40th season for the team in the National Football League and 50th season overall. They finished with a 10–6 record and a division title before losing to the Baltimore Ravens in the playoffs.... |
5 | 0 | 27 | 19 | 70.4 | 142 | 5.3 | 0 | 0 | 82.6 | 10 | 25 | 2.5 | 1 | 2 | 18 | 0 | 0 |
| 2010 2010 NFL season The 2010 NFL season was the 91st regular season of the National Football League.The regular season began with the NFL Kickoff game on NBC on Thursday, September 9, at the Louisiana Superdome as the New Orleans Saints, Super Bowl XLIV champions, defeated the Minnesota Vikings 14–9.Tom Brady,... | NE 2010 New England Patriots season The 2010 New England Patriots season was the 41st season for the team in the National Football League and 51st season overall. The Patriots improved on their 10–6 record from 2009 by finishing with a league-best 14–2 record and clinching the top seed in the AFC, before losing to the New York Jets... |
5 | 0 | 15 | 7 | 46.7 | 122 | 8.1 | 1 | 1 | 69.3 | 10 | -8 | -0.8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 10 | 0 | 42 | 26 | 61.9 | 264 | 6.3 | 1 | 1 | 77.9 | 20 | 17 | 0.8 | 1 | 2 | 18 | 0 | 0 | |