# Jack Strand
**Jack Strand** (born 2004) is an American professional football quarterback for the [Atlanta Falcons](https://www.edgepedia.org/atlanta-falcons) of the [National Football League](https://www.edgepedia.org/national-football-league) (NFL). An undrafted free agent out of Division II's Minnesota State University Moorhead, he set every major passing record in that program's history and ranks 10th all-time in [NCAA Division II](https://www.edgepedia.org/ncaa-division-ii) passing yardage before signing with Atlanta in 2026.[1](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/StraJa00.htm) • [2](https://www.atlantafalcons.com/team/players-roster/jack-strand/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 2004, Bloomer, Wisconsin; 6 ft 5 in, 240 lb (196 cm, 108 kg)[1](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/StraJa00.htm) |
| NFL team | Atlanta Falcons, No. 18, rookie in 2026; signed as an undrafted free agent[2](https://www.atlantafalcons.com/team/players-roster/jack-strand/) • [3](https://www.ncaa.com/news/football/article/2026-08-07/everything-know-about-jack-strand-dii-star-minnesota-state-moorhead-now-atlanta) |
| College career | 42 games (2022-25) at Minnesota State Moorhead: 1,247 of 1,953 passes (64%) for 13,161 yards and 126 touchdowns[2](https://www.atlantafalcons.com/team/players-roster/jack-strand/) |
| Division II rank | 10th all-time in NCAA Division II passing yardage (13,161 yards)[2](https://www.atlantafalcons.com/team/players-roster/jack-strand/) |
| Conference honors | NSIC Offensive Player of the Year in 2023 and 2025, the first Dragon to win it since 2007[4](https://www.msumdragons.com/sports/football/roster/jack-strand/10120) |
| Academics | 3.87 GPA in engineering physics; William V. Campbell Trophy finalist; 2025 NFF National Scholar-Athlete[5](https://footballfoundation.org/hof_scholars.aspx?hof=1056) |
| NFL debut | Week 2, 2026 vs. Carolina: 8 of 15 for 59 yards, no touchdowns, one interception, in a 3-34 loss[1](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/StraJa00.htm) |
## Early life and high school
Strand is from Bloomer, Wisconsin, a small community he has credited with supporting high school sports and shaping his love of football.[6](https://steelersdepot.com/2026/03/2026-nfl-draft-scouting-report-minnesota-state-moorhead-qb-jack-strand/) At Bloomer High School he was a two-time all-conference quarterback and an all-region selection, finishing his career with 2,457 passing yards and 17 touchdowns in a Wing-T/double wing system.[2](https://www.atlantafalcons.com/team/players-roster/jack-strand/) • [3](https://www.ncaa.com/news/football/article/2026-08-07/everything-know-about-jack-strand-dii-star-minnesota-state-moorhead-now-atlanta) He was a three-sport athlete, playing football, basketball, and baseball, and as a pitcher threw multiple perfect games.[7](https://www.footballguys.com/article/jack-strand-scouting-report-qb-minnesota-state)
## College career at Minnesota State Moorhead
Strand played four seasons (2022-25) for the Dragons, appearing in 42 games and completing 1,247 of 1,953 passes (64 percent) for 13,161 yards and 126 passing touchdowns.[2](https://www.atlantafalcons.com/team/players-roster/jack-strand/) That yardage total places him 10th all-time in NCAA Division II history.[2](https://www.atlantafalcons.com/team/players-roster/jack-strand/)
**Season by season.** As a freshman in 2022 he threw for 2,280 yards and 16 touchdowns with a 64.61 percent completion rate, setting the MSUM single-game record with 45 completions against Mary.[4](https://www.msumdragons.com/sports/football/roster/jack-strand/10120) In 2023 he won NSIC Offensive Player of the Year, the first Dragon to take the award since 2007, and set MSUM single-season records in passing yards (3,914), completions (370), attempts (550), and touchdowns (36); his 370 completions led the nation in the regular season.[4](https://www.msumdragons.com/sports/football/roster/jack-strand/10120) In 2024 he led the NSIC with 3,421 passing yards, the fourth-most in Division II that year, and by season's end held every major single-season and career passing record in program history.[4](https://www.msumdragons.com/sports/football/roster/jack-strand/10120)
His senior season in 2025 added conference-wide records. He led the NSIC in passing (3,546 yards) and total offense (3,834 yards), accounted for 47 total touchdowns, and set the MSUM single-season record with 42 passing touchdowns. He also reset NSIC career records in completions (1,147), passing yards (12,134), and passing touchdowns (115), tied the NSIC single-game record with seven touchdown passes against Bemidji State on November 1, and won a second NSIC Offensive Player of the Year title.[4](https://www.msumdragons.com/sports/football/roster/jack-strand/10120) He was a Harlon Hill Trophy finalist, finishing fourth in overall voting, and earned first-team [All-America](https://www.edgepedia.org/all-america) honors from multiple outlets including D2CCA, AFCA, and [Walter Camp](https://www.edgepedia.org/walter-camp).[4](https://www.msumdragons.com/sports/football/roster/jack-strand/10120)
## Academics and recognition
Strand majored in engineering physics at MSUM and maintained a 3.87 GPA.[5](https://footballfoundation.org/hof_scholars.aspx?hof=1056) He was a 2024 CSC Second Team Academic All-American and two-time CSC Academic All-District honoree, and in 2025 he was named the CSC Academic All-America Team Member of the Year.[5](https://footballfoundation.org/hof_scholars.aspx?hof=1056) • [8](https://gojacks.com/documents/download/2026/1/27/25AAA_Football_final__1_.pdf) He finished as a finalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy, awarded for academic excellence, and was selected as a 2025 NFF National Scholar-Athlete, the second in Dragons program history and the first since 1998.[5](https://footballfoundation.org/hof_scholars.aspx?hof=1056) • [3](https://www.ncaa.com/news/football/article/2026-08-07/everything-know-about-jack-strand-dii-star-minnesota-state-moorhead-now-atlanta) Before football became his long-term plan, he had considered a career with NASA.[9](https://www.ajc.com/sports/2026/08/atlanta-falcons-qb-jack-strand-went-from-nasa-dreams-to-nfl-opportunity/)
## Path to the NFL
Strand was not selected in the 2026 NFL Draft. At his pre-draft testing he measured 6 ft 3 7/8 in and 243 pounds with 10-inch hands, ran the 40-yard dash in 4.78 seconds, jumped 35 inches in the vertical and 10 ft 1 in in the broad jump, and posted a 9.18 Relative Athletic Score, rated elite overall and 10th among the 81 quarterbacks in the 2026 class.[6](https://steelersdepot.com/2026/03/2026-nfl-draft-scouting-report-minnesota-state-moorhead-qb-jack-strand/) • [10](https://www.ras.football/player/31401) Scouting reports praised his quick release, arm strength, and full-field processing as a pure pocket passer, while flagging average athleticism, inconsistent accuracy outside the numbers, and difficulty reading disguised coverages; one projected him as an undrafted free agent and compared him to [Joe Flacco](https://www.edgepedia.org/joe-flacco).[6](https://steelersdepot.com/2026/03/2026-nfl-draft-scouting-report-minnesota-state-moorhead-qb-jack-strand/) • [7](https://www.footballguys.com/article/jack-strand-scouting-report-qb-minnesota-state) The Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the [Canadian Football League](https://www.edgepedia.org/canadian-football-league) held his negotiation rights should he have chosen the CFL route.[7](https://www.footballguys.com/article/jack-strand-scouting-report-qb-minnesota-state)
He signed with the Atlanta Falcons as an undrafted free agent in 2026, the first MSU Moorhead player signed by an NFL team since Damon Gibson joined the [Green Bay Packers](https://www.edgepedia.org/green-bay-packers) in 2017.[3](https://www.ncaa.com/news/football/article/2026-08-07/everything-know-about-jack-strand-dii-star-minnesota-state-moorhead-now-atlanta) He wears No. 18, previously worn by Falcons quarterbacks [Kirk Cousins](https://www.edgepedia.org/kirk-cousins) and receivers [Calvin Ridley](https://www.edgepedia.org/calvin-ridley) and Taylor Gabriel.[3](https://www.ncaa.com/news/football/article/2026-08-07/everything-know-about-jack-strand-dii-star-minnesota-state-moorhead-now-atlanta)
## 2026 season with the Falcons
Strand took first-team reps during training camp as quarterbacks [Tua Tagovailoa](https://www.edgepedia.org/tua-tagovailoa) and [Michael Penix Jr.](https://www.edgepedia.org/michael-penix-jr) dealt with injuries, and at one point he was the only quarterback on the roster cleared for team work.[3](https://www.ncaa.com/news/football/article/2026-08-07/everything-know-about-jack-strand-dii-star-minnesota-state-moorhead-now-atlanta) • [11](https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/undrafted-rookie-qb-jack-strand-204223947.html) In Preseason Week 2 he threw for 212 yards and scored two touchdowns against the [Indianapolis Colts](https://www.edgepedia.org/indianapolis-colts), including a 16-yard touchdown run and a 13-yard touchdown pass to Cash Jones.[12](https://www.nfl.com/players/jack-strand/) • [2](https://www.atlantafalcons.com/team/players-roster/jack-strand/)
His regular-season debut came in Week 2 against the [Carolina Panthers](https://www.edgepedia.org/carolina-panthers), after [Cooper Rush](https://www.edgepedia.org/cooper-rush) started the opener. Entering the game with Atlanta trailing 34-3, Strand completed 8 of 15 passes for 59 yards with no touchdowns and one interception, a 35.1 passer rating, and added 16 rushing yards on two attempts in a 3-34 loss.[1](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/StraJa00.htm) • [2](https://www.atlantafalcons.com/team/players-roster/jack-strand/) Through that game his career NFL totals stood at one appearance, no starts, 59 passing yards, and one interception.[1](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/StraJa00.htm)
## Playing style
Scouting evaluations describe Strand as a pure pocket passer who gets through his progressions quickly, makes full-field reads, and throws with anticipation to all three levels, with visible zip into tight windows and on deep shots.[6](https://steelersdepot.com/2026/03/2026-nfl-draft-scouting-report-minnesota-state-moorhead-qb-jack-strand/) His throwing motion is unorthodox, and he bounces in the pocket to keep timing, which can cost him velocity on some throws.[7](https://www.footballguys.com/article/jack-strand-scouting-report-qb-minnesota-state) The recurring concern across reports was the jump in competition level from Division II, along with average athleticism and limited ability to escape pressure at NFL speed.[6](https://steelersdepot.com/2026/03/2026-nfl-draft-scouting-report-minnesota-state-moorhead-qb-jack-strand/) • [7](https://www.footballguys.com/article/jack-strand-scouting-report-qb-minnesota-state)
## References
1. [Jack Strand Stats, Pro-Football-Reference](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/StraJa00.htm)
2. [Jack Strand player biography, Atlanta Falcons](https://www.atlantafalcons.com/team/players-roster/jack-strand/)
3. [Everything to know about Jack Strand, former DII star now with the Atlanta Falcons, NCAA.com](https://www.ncaa.com/news/football/article/2026-08-07/everything-know-about-jack-strand-dii-star-minnesota-state-moorhead-now-atlanta)
4. [Jack Strand 2025 football roster bio, MSU Moorhead Athletics](https://www.msumdragons.com/sports/football/roster/jack-strand/10120)
5. [Jack Strand (2025) NFF National Scholar-Athlete, National Football Foundation](https://footballfoundation.org/hof_scholars.aspx?hof=1056)
6. [2026 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Minnesota State Moorhead QB Jack Strand, Steelers Depot](https://steelersdepot.com/2026/03/2026-nfl-draft-scouting-report-minnesota-state-moorhead-qb-jack-strand/)
7. [Jack Strand Scouting Report - QB, Minnesota State, Footballguys](https://www.footballguys.com/article/jack-strand-scouting-report-qb-minnesota-state)
8. [2025 Academic All-America Football Team, CSC](https://gojacks.com/documents/download/2026/1/27/25AAA_Football_final__1_.pdf)
9. [Atlanta Falcons QB Jack Strand went from NASA dreams to NFL opportunity, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution](https://www.ajc.com/sports/2026/08/atlanta-falcons-qb-jack-strand-went-from-nasa-dreams-to-nfl-opportunity/)
10. [Jack Strand QB, 9.18 RAS, Relative Athletic Score](https://www.ras.football/player/31401)
11. [Undrafted rookie QB Jack Strand working with Falcons' first-team offense, Yahoo Sports](https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/undrafted-rookie-qb-jack-strand-204223947.html)
12. [Jack Strand Stats, News and Video - QB, NFL.com](https://www.nfl.com/players/jack-strand/)
---
*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Other team and ball sports › Rugby and other football codes › American football players, coaches, and executives › Quarterbacks › 2010s quarterbacks*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license