Former Penn State quarterback Trace McSorley is joining Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots
The Patriots announced Thursday that they had signed McSorley from the Cardinals.
Patriots sign QB Trace McSorley: https://t.co/1LzfCbpZ5J
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) April 13, 2023
This will be the third team McSorley has played for in his NFL career that began in 2019.
McSorley had been with Arizona since 2021, when he was signed off the Ravens’ practice squad days before Thanksgiving. McSorley appeared in six of Arizona’s 17 games last season, highlighted by his first NFL start, which took place Christmas Eve against Patriots icon Tom Brady and the Buccaneers. McSorley went 24 of 45 for 217 yards, no touchdowns and an interception in an overtime loss. He’s appeared in a total of nine games during his NFL career which began with Baltimore in 2019.
Following a successful career at Penn State, McSorley was a sixth-round pick of the Ravens in 2019. He made his NFL debut in that year’s regular-season finale, going 1-for-1 for one yard in a win over the rival Steelers. The next season, McSorley threw his first NFL touchdown—a 70-yard catch-and-run to Marquise “Hollywood” Brown— with 3:11 left in a 19-14 loss at Pittsburgh.
Two games later, McSorley came on in relief of starter Lamar Jackson in what’s now an infamous game in Cleveland. McSorley sprained his knee in that game and never played another regular-season down for Baltimore.
Penn State fans— and probably football fans in general— know Trace McSorley best for what he did before coming to NFL and playing for the Ravens, Cards or Patriots. McSorley played at Penn State from 2014-18 and became one of the most beloved players in school history. He went 31-9 as a starter over three seasons, highlighted by 2016, when he helped Penn State to a Big Ten Championship win. McSorley finished his career atop Penn State’s all-time list in passing yards, touchdowns and completions. McSorley’s successor at starting QB, Sean Clifford, eclipsed his predecessor in those three categories.
Terms of the contract have not been announced yet. If McSorley makes the team out of training camp, he’ll likely be a backup to starter Mac Jones.
