Brian Hoyer

Axel Edward Brian Hoyer was born on October 13, 1985, in Lakewood, Ohio, and raised in North Olmsted. He attended Saint Ignatius High School in Cleveland, Ohio, where he excelled in both football and baseball. In football, he compiled a 16–7 record as a two-year starter, completing 258 out of 412 passes for 5,570 yards, 45 touchdowns, and 15 interceptions in his senior year (2003). He was also named a USA Today Prep Player of the Week and an Associated Press Division I all-state selection. He then redshirted at Michigan State University in 2004, and over his college career from 2005 to 2008, he completed 500 out of 896 passes for 6,159 yards, 35 touchdowns, and 23 interceptions.

Hoyer started his NFL career undrafted in 2009, signing with the New England Patriots. His tenure with the Patriots spanned eight non-consecutive seasons, primarily serving as a backup quarterback. Notably, he was a member of the team that won Super Bowl LIII in 2019. Throughout his career, Hoyer played for eight different NFL teams, showcasing his resilience and ability to learn complex systems. His most prominent starting role came with the Houston Texans in 2015, where he led the team to a division title after signing a two-year, $10.5 million contract.

Key career achievements include orchestrating the largest comeback victory in Cleveland Browns franchise history in 2014, overcoming a 28–3 deficit against the Tennessee Titans to win 29–28. He also achieved a career-high 397 passing yards with the Chicago Bears in 2016, placing it among the top single-game performances in Bears history. Towards the end of his career, after multiple stints with the Patriots and a season with the Indianapolis Colts, Hoyer signed with the Las Vegas Raiders in 2023. He played his final NFL season with the Raiders before being released in March 2024, concluding a 15-year professional football career.