Record-setting Western Kentucky passer and well-traveled NFL backup now with the Jets.
Bailey Zappe is a quarterback who joined the New York Jets on a reserve/future contract in January 2026. He broke FBS single-season passing records at Western Kentucky before a fourth-round selection by New England in 2022. Since then he has bounced around the league as a backup, and he arrives in New York looking to stick on the depth chart.
Path to the league
Zappe played his first three seasons at Houston Baptist before transferring to Western Kentucky for his final year, per Wikipedia. In 2021 he set FBS single-season records with 5,967 passing yards and 62 touchdowns, capping it in the Boca Raton Bowl. The Patriots drafted him in the fourth round in 2022.
Career highlights
Zappe alternated as backup and spot starter across two seasons in New England, then signed with Cleveland as a backup in 2024. He inked a one-year deal with Kansas City in March 2025 but was waived in August, later landing on the Browns' practice squad, per Wikipedia.
2025 season
After his release in Kansas City, Zappe spent much of 2025 on Cleveland's practice squad. He signed a reserve/future contract with the Jets on January 12, 2026, setting up a depth competition in New York.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Bailey Zappe
- ESPN: Bailey Zappe player page
Statistics
2025 season and career▶Passing · career
| Year | Team | GP | CMP | ATT | YDS | TD | INT | RTG | QBR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | browns | 1 | 16 | 31 | 170 | 1 | 2 | 51.8 | 17.6 |
| 2023 | patriots | 10 | 127 | 212 | 1,272 | 6 | 9 | 68.8 | 23.9 |
| 2022 | patriots | 4 | 65 | 92 | 781 | 5 | 3 | 100.9 | 36.4 |
▶Rushing · career
| Year | Team | GP | CAR | YDS | AVG | TD | LNG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | browns | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1.0 | 0 | 3 |
| 2023 | patriots | 10 | 17 | 83 | 4.9 | 1 | 18 |
| 2022 | patriots | 4 | 10 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 5 |
Player Profile
Background
- Position
- Quarterback
- Group
- offense
- College
- Western Kentucky
- Hometown
- Victoria, TX, USA
- Age
- 27
- Status
- active
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