The New England Patriots have their starting quarterback in second-year signal-caller Mac Jones. However, it never hurts to have a veteran backup who knows the system, so re-signing Brian Hoyer seems like a real no-brainer for Bill Belichick’s team.
Hoyer has reached an agreement on a two-year contract to return to the Patriots, his agent told ESPN. The deal is worth $4 million with $3 million guaranteed and incentives, per Adam Schefter.
The 36-year-old journeyman quarterback is in the midst of his third stint with New England. After being signed as an undrafted free agent in 2009, he spent three seasons with the club before bouncing around the league with the Arizona Cardinals, Cleveland Browns, Houston Texans, Chicago Bears, and San Francisco 49ers before returning to the Patriots in 2017. After a two-year stint back, he signed with the Indianapolis Colts for a season before returning to New England in 2020 where he’s been playing on one-year contracts ever since.
Hoyer started a bunch of games during his NFL career but he’s pretty much settled into being backup for the past five seasons and, given his familiarity with the Patriots, he seems like an ideal fit for the organization as it tries to build a future around Jones. The fact that his contract is laced with incentives likely kept him in-house rather than looking elsewhere for one more shot at a potential starting gig.
The reaction to the news seems positive overall for the Pats and what it means for Mac Jones.
Hoyer saw limited action last season, playing in just five games and throwing for 227 yards and a touchdown. But if the Patriots have their way, that’s exactly what they’re paying him for.
[ESPN]
About Sean Keeley
Along with writing for Awful Announcing and The Comeback, Sean is the Managing Editor for Comeback Media. Previously, he created the Syracuse blog Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician and wrote 'How To Grow An Orange: The Right Way to Brainwash Your Child Into Rooting for Syracuse.' He has also written non-Syracuse-related things for SB Nation, Curbed, and other outlets. He currently lives in Seattle where he is complaining about bagels. Send tips/comments/complaints to sean@thecomeback.com.