Brian Hoyer Brian Axel Hoyer ( born October 13 , 1985 ) is an American football quarterback for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League ( NFL ) . Originally signed as an undrafted free agent in 2009 by the New England Patriots , Hoyer played the role of backup to Tom Brady until being released on August 31 , 2012 . Before returning to the Cleveland area to play for his hometown team ( leading Browns fans to give him the nickname " Hoyer the Destroyer " ) Hoyer also played for the Pittsburgh Steelers , New England Patriots , and Arizona Cardinals . Hoyer played college football at Michigan State . Early years . Hoyer attended Saint Ignatius High School in Cleveland , Ohio , where he played both football and baseball for the Wildcats . On the varsity baseball team , Hoyer played multiple positions : 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 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 an 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 . College career . Hoyer was redshirted by Michigan State University in 2004 , where he earned Scout Team Offensive Player of the Week honors twice . In 2005 , he saw action in five games in which 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 . One of those touchdown passes was completed to Javon Ringer . 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 in 13 games . He had six 200 - yard passing games . In 2008 , his senior year , 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 . That year , he played in 13 games and completed 180 of 353 passes ( . 510 ) for 2404 yards and 9 TDs and 9 interceptions . Professional career . New England Patriots . 2009 season . Despite being invited to the NFL Scouting Combine , Hoyer was not selected in the 2009 NFL Draft . 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 one touchdown , with a 98 . 1 passer rating . 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 a 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 . 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 Browns , 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 throw of Hoyer ' s NFL career . 2011 season . Although the Patriots drafted quarterback Ryan Mallett in the draft over the summer , Hoyer retained his role as Brady ' s primary backup . In the preseason , Hoyer threw for 296 yards on 25 of 42 passes with one touchdown and no interceptions . Hoyer saw only limited action during the 2011 season ; his only pass attempt was the Patriots ' final attempt of the 2011 regular season . The pass , which head coach Bill Belichick asked offensive coordinator Bill O ' Brien to call , was a 22 - yard pass to tight end Rob Gronkowski to give Gronkowski the NFL record for receiving yards by a tight end . 2012 season . On August 31 , 2012 , during final cuts , Hoyer was released by the Patriots . He practiced with Saint Ignatius players while hoping for another team to sign him . Pittsburgh Steelers . On November 20 , 2012 , Hoyer signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers after injuries to starting Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and backup Byron Leftwich within a week of each other . He served as the backup to Charlie Batch in Weeks 12 and 13 against the Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Ravens respectively . He was released on December 8 , 2012 . Arizona Cardinals . He was claimed on waivers by the Arizona Cardinals on December 10 . Hoyer replaced Ryan Lindley in Week 16 against the Chicago Bears , and completed 11 of 19 passes for 105 yards and one interception . On December 26 , Cardinals head coach Ken Whisenhunt announced that Hoyer would start the season finale against the San Francisco 49ers , making him the fourth quarterback for the Cardinals . On May 12 , 2013 , Hoyer was released by the Cardinals . Cleveland Browns . 2013 season . On May 16 , he was signed by the Cleveland Browns to a 2 - year deal . On September 18 , in relief of then - starter Brandon Weeden , who was out with a thumb injury , the Browns skipped over 2nd string Jason Campbell and named him the starting quarterback for the Week 3 game against the Minnesota Vikings . He threw for 321 yards with 3 touchdowns and 3 interceptions in the team ' s first win of the season . It was announced later in the week that Hoyer would be the Browns ' starting quarterback for Week 4 against the rival Cincinnati Bengals , as Weeden remained out with a thumb injury . Hoyer led the Browns to another win , completing 25 of 38 passes for 269 yards and 2 touchdowns , along with throwing no interceptions in a 17 - 6 victory . The next day on September 30 , Hoyer was named the starter for a third straight game , Thursday Night Football vs the Buffalo Bills . Despite being named starter for three straight games , Hoyer was not declared the official starter for the remainder of the 2013 season by Cleveland head coach Rob Chudzinski , who referred to the situation as " a week - to - week thing . " He later added that , if Hoyer continued to exceed expectations , he would maintain his starting position . However , Hoyer sustained an ACL tear in the Thursday Night game versus the Buffalo Bills ending his promising season . 2014 season . With the Browns ' releases of Weeden and Campbell to free agency , Hoyer stated that he was confident that he would be the starting quarterback for the Browns , no matter who they would draft in 2014 . The Browns would draft Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Johnny Manziel 22nd overall , who was known as one of the top quarterback prospects in the 2014 NFL draft . Hoyer did not take this as too much of a shock , stating " I don ' t want people to think I ' m sitting at home pouting . " Head Coach Mike Pettine has stated that Manziel will not simply be handed the job , leaving the starter position open to competition . On August 20 , 2014 , Hoyer was tabbed the starting quarterback for the Browns to begin the 2014 season . Through the first six weeks the Browns were 3 - 2 , with the two heartbreaking losses coming on last - second scores , and Hoyer possessing a 7 - 1 TD : INT ratio . During Week 5 against the Tennessee Titans , Hoyer threw for 292 yards , 3 touchdowns , and an interception . Despite trailing 28 - 3 , Hoyer led the Browns to 26 unanswered points . Securing the win with a final score of 29 - 28 . It was the largest comeback victory in franchise history , and the largest for a road team in NFL history . Personal life . Hoyer is married to his high school sweetheart Lauren Scrivens . They have one son , Garrett , and one daughter , Cameron .