Skylar John Thompson (born June 4, 1997) is an American professional football quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Kansas State Wildcats and was drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the seventh round of the 2022 NFL draft. Thompson has appeared in nine career NFL games with five starts, helping the Dolphins clinch their first playoff appearance since 2016 during the 2022 season. He signed with the Steelers in January 2025.
Skylar Thompson Bio
Skylar John Thompson grew up in Palmyra, Missouri, and attended Fort Osage High School in Independence, Missouri. His mother, Teresa Thompson, died from stage-four breast cancer in 2004 when Thompson was six years old. He also lost his grandfather, John Thompson, to pancreatic cancer in 2003. These early challenges shaped Thompson into a resilient athlete who excelled in multiple sports at Fort Osage High School. He earned four-year letters as starting quarterback, punter, and kicker while also lettering in basketball, baseball, and soccer. Thompson was named Missouri All-State in both basketball and soccer during his high school career.
High School Career
During his senior season at Fort Osage High School, Thompson established himself as one of Missouri’s top high school quarterbacks. He threw for 2,129 yards on 142 pass attempts with 26 touchdowns against just three interceptions, leading the Fort Osage Indians to a 13-1 record and a state championship title over Chaminade High School. In the state championship game, Thompson accounted for a state championship game record of 455 total yards and seven touchdowns through the air and on the ground. Over his entire high school career, he completed 423 passes for 6,222 yards with a 63% completion rate, 72 touchdowns, and nine interceptions.
Thompson was rated as a three-star recruit by ESPN and a four-star recruit by 247Sports. He accepted a full scholarship to Kansas State over offers from Illinois, Iowa State, Kansas, Louisville, North Dakota State, Ohio, Tulsa, UNLV, Wake Forest, and Wyoming. He also received preferred walk-on offers from Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Missouri.
College Career at Kansas State
Thompson redshirted his freshman season at Kansas State University in 2016 and was named Scout Team Player of the Year. He appeared in eight games as a sophomore with four starts, throwing for 267 yards and three touchdowns. Thompson earned the full-time starting quarterback job as a sophomore and held that role through the remainder of his college career despite battling numerous injuries.
His sophomore year was interrupted by minor injuries including a broken rib and twisted ankle. In 2020, Thompson was ruled out for the season after sustaining a serious upper-body injury against Texas Tech. He was again injured in week three of the 2021 season against Southern Illinois, seeing limited action as a backup while recovering and not returning to full-time play until week 10.
When healthy, Thompson performed at a high level and ranks among the best quarterbacks in Kansas State football history. He holds the all-time record for best passer rating over 2,000 yards, ranks second in career passing yards (7,134), second in career passing touchdowns (42), and second in total offensive yards for a quarterback in school history. He completed his college career with a 63% completion rate, 42 touchdowns, and 16 interceptions through the air while adding 1,087 rushing yards and 26 touchdowns on the ground.
Skylar Thompson Career
Draft and Miami Dolphins (2022–2024)
Prior to the 2022 NFL Draft, Thompson was projected as an undrafted free agent due to his injury history, age, and concerns about consistent passing production according to NFL.com. Despite these concerns, the Miami Dolphins selected Thompson with the 247th overall pick in the seventh round. His strong preseason performance in 2022 immediately turned heads around the league.
Thompson’s play during the first two games of the 2022 preseason was impressive. ProFootballTalk speculated that his success might force the Dolphins to keep him on the active roster rather than risk losing him to another team. Head coach Mike McDaniel noted that it would be difficult to leave Thompson off the main roster after his strong preseason performances. Thompson ranked first among qualifying quarterbacks in passer rating (138.5) at the conclusion of the 2022 preseason and made the 53-man roster after final cuts.
Dolphins Starter Role (2022)
Thompson made his NFL debut in Week 5 of the 2022 season against the New York Jets after Teddy Bridgewater left the game with a concussion. He completed 19 of 33 passes for 166 yards and one interception in the 40–17 loss. On October 15, 2022, Thompson was named the Week 6 starter against the Minnesota Vikings after both Tua Tagovailoa and Bridgewater were in concussion protocol. He sustained a thumb injury after completing 7 of 13 passes for 89 yards and did not finish the game.
On January 6, 2023, Thompson was named the starter against the Jets in Week 18 after Tagovailoa entered concussion protocol following Week 16 and Bridgewater suffered a dislocated finger on his throwing hand in Week 17. He completed 20 passes on 31 attempts for 152 yards in an 11–6 victory, helping the Dolphins clinch their first postseason appearance since the 2016 season.
Tagovailoa was ruled out for the Dolphins’ Wild Card Round game against the Buffalo Bills, and Thompson started his third career game. Miami entered as 14-point underdogs and lost 34–31. Thompson threw for 220 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions with a 40% completion rate, though Miami receivers were credited with several drops that affected his performance.
Dolphins 2023–2024
With Tagovailoa healthy in 2023, Thompson served as the third-string quarterback behind Mike White and did not appear in any games during the season. In 2024, Thompson replaced Tagovailoa in their Week 2 game against the Buffalo Bills after the latter left with a concussion. He started the following week against the Seattle Seahawks but left midway through the third quarter in their 24–3 loss with a rib injury. The Dolphins waived Thompson on December 14, 2024, and re-signed him to the practice squad three days later.
Pittsburgh Steelers (2025–Present)
On January 14, 2025, Thompson signed a reserve/future contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers. His competition for the backup quarterback role began during offseason workouts and training camp. On September 12, 2025, Thompson was placed on injured reserve due to a hamstring injury suffered in practice, ending his 2025 season before it truly began. Thompson continues working toward full recovery as he aims to contribute to the Steelers organization.
Playing Style and Strengths
Thompson operates primarily as a pocket passer with above-average accuracy. His collegiate statistics (63% career completion rate) demonstrate consistent ball placement. His ability to extend plays and make throws on the run adds a dual-threat dimension to his game, with 1,087 career rushing yards and 26 touchdowns at Kansas State. Thompson’s experience starting in multiple high-pressure situations with the Dolphins, including playoff games, prepared him to handle adverse circumstances professionally. His mobility allows him to buy time in the pocket and pick up first downs when passing lanes close down.
Notable Events and Milestones
Thompson’s most significant career milestone came during the 2022 season when he led the Dolphins to a playoff-clinching victory over the Jets in Week 18. This win secured Miami’s first postseason berth in seven years. He also started a playoff game against the Buffalo Bills as a seventh-round rookie, guiding the Dolphins to a competitive performance against a superior opponent. Thompson’s preseason passer rating of 138.5 in 2022 ranked first among all qualifying quarterbacks and demonstrated his readiness for NFL competition.
Skylar Thompson Career Statistics
Thompson has appeared in nine career NFL games with five starts, accumulating valuable experience as a developmental quarterback. His college career at Kansas State showcased his dual-threat ability and consistency over five seasons as the starter.
NFL Statistics
Thompson has completed 81 of 138 pass attempts for 721 yards with one touchdown and three interceptions for a 66.1 passer rating in regular-season play. He saw significant action during the 2022 season when injuries to both Tagovailoa and Bridgewater forced him into the starting lineup. His performance against the Jets in the season finale proved decisive in securing the Dolphins’ playoff position.
College Statistics
Thompson finished his Kansas State career with 7,134 passing yards on 552 attempts (63% completion rate) for 42 touchdowns and 16 interceptions. He added 1,087 rushing yards and 26 touchdowns on the ground. He holds school records for passer rating over 2,000 career yards and ranks second in both career passing yards and passing touchdowns in Kansas State history.
| Competition | Games | Comp | Att | Yards | TD | INT | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NFL Regular Season | 9 | 81 | 138 | 721 | 1 | 3 | 66.1 |
| College (Kansas State) | 46 | 552 | 875 | 7,134 | 42 | 16 | — |
Skylar Thompson Family
Family Background
Thompson was born to Brad Thompson and Teresa Thompson in Palmyra, Missouri. His mother Teresa was diagnosed with stage-four breast cancer and died in 2004 when Thompson was just six years old. Thompson also lost his grandfather, John Thompson, to pancreatic cancer in 2003. The early loss of both his mother and grandfather shaped Thompson’s character and contributed to the resilience he displays on the football field. His father Brad supported his athletic development throughout his youth career.
Personal Life
Thompson married his wife Bre Newcomer in April 2025. The couple met prior to Thompson’s NFL career and maintained their relationship through his collegiate career and early professional years. During Week 4 of the 2025 NFL season while the Steelers traveled to Dublin, Ireland to face the Minnesota Vikings, Thompson suffered minor injuries after being assaulted and robbed on September 26, 2025. He recovered from those injuries and continued his football career. Thompson’s perseverance through personal tragedy and professional adversity has been noted by coaches and teammates throughout his career.
2025 Season Outlook
The 2025 season represents a pivotal year in Thompson’s NFL career. After signing with the Steelers in January, he aimed to compete for the backup quarterback position and prove he could be a reliable depth option at the position. However, a hamstring injury sustained in practice before the regular season placed him on injured reserve, prematurely ending his first season with the organization. Thompson’s experience starting games for the Dolphins gives him an advantage over less experienced backups, as he understands how to prepare for and execute in NFL game situations. His ability to extend plays and make throws outside the pocket provides the Steelers with a different skill set compared to more traditional pocket passers. As Thompson continues his recovery, he works toward returning to the field and demonstrating his value to the Steelers organization in future seasons.