Josh Dobbs, who once provided Minnesota Vikings fans with some of the franchise's most recent memorable moments, is now in need of a new home for the 2026 NFL season after the New England Patriots decided to release the veteran quarterback on Monday.
Dobbs still had one year remaining on the contract he signed with the Patriots last offseason, and he was scheduled to have a cap hit of $4.75 million in 2026, according to OverTheCap.com.
The former Vikings signal-caller became expendable for New England earlier this month when the team re-signed fellow backup quarterback Tommy DeVito to a new two-year deal worth $7.4 million. The Patriots were then unable to find a team that was willing to trade for Dobbs, and that ultimately resulted in his release on Monday.
Former Minnesota Vikings QB Josh Dobbs released by the New England Patriots
At 31-years-old and with extensive experience as a backup quarterback in the NFL, Dobbs should be able to land with a new team at some point this offseason. Helping mentor a young signal-caller on a team like the Las Vegas Raiders, New Orleans Saints, or the New York Giants could be among the possibilities for Dobbs this year.
Before joining New England in 2025, he spent the previous season with the San Francisco 49ers, backing up Brock Purdy.
Dobbs' stint with the 49ers, of course, came after his memorable 2023 campaign with the Vikings. During that season, he started four games for Minnesota, which included an improbable victory over the Atlanta Falcons in Week 9 that came less than a week after he joined the team.
Since entering the league with the Pittsburgh Steelers as a 2017 fourth-round draft pick, Dobbs has a career record of 3-12 in 15 total starts. During his time in the NFL, he's completed 62.8 percent of his passes for 3,346 yards, 17 touchdowns, and 15 interceptions, in addition to rushing for 515 yards (4.7 per carry) and another eight scores in 27 total appearances.