How Jaguars QB Nick Mullens has made a career as backup to stars
· Yahoo Sports
When it comes to being a backup quarterback in the NFL, you’re always just one hit away from having your number called.
That is the case for Jacksonville Jaguars backup QB Nick Mullens.
Visit asg-reflektory.pl for more information.
Mullens, an eight-year NFL veteran, has spent most of his career as a backup, yet he’s also seen his fair share of starts.
Should Trevor Lawrence suffer some sort of injury during the 2026 season, the Jaguars will rely on the experienced Mullens to step up and keep the team contending.
Here are five things to know about Mullens:
Nick Mullens had distinguished career at Brett Favre’s alma mater
Mullens attended college at Brett Favre’s alma mater of Southern Mississippi.
When he took over the starting QB job as a freshman in 2013, the team was 0-6 and in the midst of an 18-game losing streak.
The slide continued to 23 games before Mullens had a five-touchdown performance in a win against the University of Alabama-Birmingham in the final game of the season. The Golden Eagles finished 1-11.
After a 3-9 season in 2014, Mullens led Southern Mississippi to a 9-5 record in 2015, making the Dallas Bowl where they lost to Washington.
During his final season in 2016, Mullens led the team to a 7-6 record and a win over Louisiana Lafayette in the New Orleans Bowl.
During that season, on Oct. 1, 2016, Mullens threw for a collegiate career-high 591 yards against the Rice Owls, with four touchdowns and an interception in a 44–28 victory.
When his college career was done, Mullens surpassed Brett Favre's single-season school records for passing yards (4,476) and touchdown passes (38), as well as a career marks with 11,994 passing yards and 87 touchdowns.
Nick Mullens had to wait his turn in San Francisco
After not being selected in the 2017 NFL Draft, Mullens signed with the San Francisco 49ers as an undrafted free agent. He entered training camp competing with four other quarterbacks to be backup to Jimmy Garoppolo.
When it was all sorted out, veteran Brian Hoyer and rookie C.J. Beathard were retained while Matt Barkley was released and Mullens was signed to the practice squad a day after being waived.
Mullens got his chance in 2018. Garoppolo tore his ACL just three games into the season, moving Beathard into the starting job.
Mullens was promoted to the active roster under a new two-year contract.
Beathard lost all five of his starts after the Garoppolo injury, suffering his own wrist injury during his fifth start, leading the 49ers to name Mullens the starter for a Nov. 1 game against the Raiders. Mullens threw for 262 yards and three touchdowns as the 49ers won 34-3.
Mullens went 3-5 with 2,277 passing yards, 13 touchdowns and 10 interceptions in eight starts.
Mullens lost his job but got one more starting shot
Garoppolo’s return meant the end for Mullens as 49ers starter in 2019. Garoppolo had a career year, throwing for 3,978 yards and 27 touchdowns as the team went 13-3 and made it to Super Bowl LIV, where they lost 31–20 to the Kansas City Chiefs.
In 2020, a Garoppolo leg injury helped Mullens move back into the starting role. He led the 49ers to a win over the Giants, but was benched the following week in favor of Beathard after struggling against the Eagles.
Garoppolo reclaimed his starting spot but ceded it again after an ankle injury knocked him out indefinitely. Mullens started the next six games but was knocked out for the rest of the season with an elbow injury.
Nick Mullens’ journey as a backup QB began in 2021
The 49ers let Mullens go as an unrestricted free agent following the 2020 season. He signed with the Eagles in June but was waived in August. He signed with the Browns thereafter and appeared in one game in 2021.
Mullens spent the next three years in Minnesota, appearing in 13 games, starting three in 2023.
He was signed by the Jaguars on March 12, 2025, and won the backup job to Trevor Lawrence. He appeared in five games for mop-up duty.
Mullens had two seasons with the 49ers where he started 8 games, in 2018 and 2020.
In the five seasons that followed, he started four games while appearing in a total of 19 games.
Nick Mullens had pitching in his blood but choose to throw footballs
Mullens is the grandson of Ernie Tabor, who pitched in the Philadelphia Phillies’ minor league system in the 1950s. Mullens' uncle, Scott Tabor, pitched for the Arkansas Razorbacks baseball team, and holds the school record for most career wins; he also pitched professionally in the minor leagues.
Mullens chose quarterback, though, and became the starter at Spain Park High School in Hoover, Alabama.
As a senior in 2012, he threw for 3,649 yards and 40 touchdowns with only seven interceptions en route to winning the 2012 Gatorade Player of the Year award for the state of Alabama.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: How Jaguars QB Nick Mullens has made a career as backup to stars