The No. 3 overall pick in 2021 who led North Dakota State to an undefeated national title season, Lance is still searching for a foothold as an NFL starter.
Trey Lance's path from FCS phenom to top-five draft pick to journeyman backup is one of the more unusual arcs at the position. After stints with the 49ers and Cowboys, he now serves as Justin Herbert's backup with the Chargers.
Path to the league
Lance led North Dakota State to a perfect 16-0 season and an FCS national championship as a redshirt freshman. The San Francisco 49ers traded up to select him third overall in the 2021 NFL Draft, betting on his rare combination of arm strength and athleticism.
Career highlights
Injuries and inconsistent play limited Lance's opportunities in San Francisco, and he was traded to the Dallas Cowboys in 2023. He has made spot starts for both franchises but has yet to hold down a starting job for a full season.
2025 season recap
Lance signed with the Chargers as Justin Herbert's backup and made four appearances in 2025, starting the regular-season finale against Denver, where he completed 20 of 44 passes for 136 yards with an interception while adding 69 rushing yards on nine carries. It was his first regular-season start since his final season in San Francisco.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Trey Lance
- NFL.com: Trey Lance has 'big night' in Chargers' Hall of Fame Game win over Lions
Statistics
2025 season and career2025 Season · Passing
4 games played▶Passing · career
| Year | Team | GP | CMP | ATT | YDS | TD | INT | RTG | QBR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | chargers | 4 | 27 | 57 | 226 | 0 | 1 | 50.8 | 20.0 |
| 2024 | cowboys | 4 | 25 | 41 | 266 | 0 | 1 | 69.8 | 35.2 |
| 2022 | 49ers | 2 | 15 | 31 | 194 | 0 | 1 | 55.0 | 36.9 |
| 2021 | 49ers | 6 | 41 | 71 | 603 | 5 | 2 | 97.3 | 39.0 |
▶Rushing · career
| Year | Team | GP | CAR | YDS | AVG | TD | LNG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | chargers | 4 | 17 | 85 | 5.0 | 0 | 22 |
| 2024 | cowboys | 4 | 11 | 41 | 3.7 | 0 | 11 |
| 2022 | 49ers | 2 | 16 | 67 | 4.2 | 0 | 13 |
| 2021 | 49ers | 6 | 38 | 168 | 4.4 | 1 | 15 |
Player Profile
Background
- Position
- Quarterback
- Group
- offense
- College
- North Dakota State
- Hometown
- Marshall, MN, USA
- Age
- 26
- Status
- active
Team
