Nick Mullens Bio
Nicholas Clayton Mullens is an American professional football quarterback for the Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Southern Miss Golden Eagles, where he surpassed Brett Favre’s single-season school records for passing yardage and touchdown passes. Mullens was signed by the San Francisco 49ers as an undrafted free agent in 2017 and has also been a member of the Philadelphia Eagles, Cleveland Browns, Las Vegas Raiders, and Minnesota Vikings. Known for his quick release and accuracy, Mullens has carved out a reliable NFL career as a backup and spot-starter across multiple organizations.
Early Life and Background
Mullens was born to Suzanne and Mark Mullens on March 21, 1995, in Little Rock, Arkansas. He grew up in Hoover, Alabama, a suburb of Birmingham. Mullens comes from a notable athletic family lineage. His grandfather, Ernie Tabor, pitched in the Philadelphia Phillies minor league system during the 1950s. His uncle, Scott Tabor, pitched for the Arkansas Razorbacks baseball team and holds the school record for most career wins. Scott also pitched professionally in the minor leagues.
Mullens attended Spain Park High School in Hoover, where he emerged as the team’s starting quarterback. As a senior during the 2012 season, he threw for 3,649 yards and 40 touchdowns against only seven interceptions. His outstanding performance earned him the 2012 Gatorade Player of the Year award for the state of Alabama. Mullens finished his high school career with 8,605 total passing yards, ranking seventh all-time in AHSAA history for career passing yards.
Path to Professional Football
Initially, Mullens verbally committed to the University of Alabama at Birmingham. However, he changed his decision on national signing day after making a last-minute visit to the University of Southern Mississippi. He signed with the Southern Miss Golden Eagles instead, a decision that would define his collegiate career and eventual professional trajectory.
Mullens began his college career during the 2013 season, initially inheriting a struggling program that had lost 18 consecutive games. He was inserted as the starting quarterback mid-season and quickly demonstrated his potential. In his second collegiate game against Marshall, Mullens became the first true freshman starting quarterback in Southern Miss history to pass for more than 300 yards in a single game. He helped the program end its 23-game losing streak on November 30, 2013, with a five-touchdown performance against UAB, the school he originally committed to before changing his mind.
Nick Mullens Career
San Francisco 49ers (2017–2020)
On May 4, 2017, Mullens signed with the San Francisco 49ers as an undrafted free agent. He entered training camp as the fourth quarterback on the depth chart behind Brian Hoyer, Matt Barkley, and rookie C. J. Beathard. After being waived during final roster cuts on September 2, 2017, he was signed to the practice squad the following day. The 49ers signed him to a reserve/futures contract on January 2, 2018, following his rookie season on the practice squad.
On September 26, 2018, the 49ers promoted Mullens to the active roster after starting quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo tore his ACL and was placed on injured reserve. His opportunity arrived sooner than expected when he was named the starter for Week 9 against the Oakland Raiders after Beathard suffered a wrist injury. Mullens made his NFL debut and first start, completing 16 of 22 pass attempts for 262 yards and three touchdowns in a 34-3 victory. His passer rating of 151.9 was the highest for a quarterback with at least 20 attempts in a debut since 1970. He became the first player in 49ers history to throw three touchdowns in his first game with the team.
Mullens continued to start and posted a career-high 414 passing yards in a Week 13 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. He finished the 2018 season with 2,277 passing yards, 13 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions in eight games and starts. During the 2019 season, Mullens served primarily as the backup to Garoppolo, appearing in only one game as the 49ers reached Super Bowl LIV before losing to the Kansas City Chiefs. In 2020, Mullens made several starts due to Garoppolo’s injuries, including a 343-yard performance against the New York Giants. He suffered an elbow injury in Week 15 against the Dallas Cowboys and was placed on injured reserve on December 25, ending his season.
Philadelphia Eagles and Cleveland Browns (2021)
On June 14, 2021, Mullens signed a one-year contract with the Philadelphia Eagles. He was waived on August 28 during roster reductions. The Cleveland Browns signed him to their practice squad on September 1, 2021, and elevated him to the active roster on October 21. Mullens received his most significant opportunity with the Browns during Week 15 against the Las Vegas Raiders when a COVID-19 outbreak affected the quarterback room. He was named the starting quarterback and completed 20 of 30 passes for 147 yards and a touchdown in a close 16-14 loss.
Las Vegas Raiders (2022)
Mullens signed with the Las Vegas Raiders on April 4, 2022. However, his tenure was short-lived as the Raiders traded him to the Minnesota Vikings on August 22, 2022, in exchange for a 2024 conditional seventh-round draft pick.
Minnesota Vikings (2022–2024)
Mullens joined the Vikings in August 2022 and appeared in limited action during his first season. He saw significant playing time during the 2023 season when starter Kirk Cousins suffered a season-ending Achilles injury in Week 8 against the Green Bay Packers. Mullens signed a two-year contract extension with the Vikings on March 14, 2023, securing his place with the organization. He was placed on injured reserve in October 2023 and activated in November. During Week 14 against the Raiders, Mullens replaced Joshua Dobbs in the fourth quarter and led a game-winning drive, sparking a 3-0 victory. He started the final four games of the season, including a 411-yard performance against the Detroit Lions. In 2024, Mullens began as the third-string quarterback behind J. J. McCarthy and Sam Darnold, but McCarthy’s season-ending preseason injury elevated him to the primary backup role. Darnold started all 17 games, and Mullens appeared in four games, completing both of his pass attempts.
Jacksonville Jaguars (2025–Present)
On March 12, 2025, Mullens signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars. He joined the organization as an experienced backup quarterback, providing depth and leadership to the quarterback room. His career trajectory demonstrates his durability and ability to contribute when called upon across multiple NFL franchises.
Nick Mullens Career Statistics
Across his NFL career spanning seven seasons with five teams, Mullens has established himself as a capable backup quarterback with starting experience. His career passing statistics reflect his role as a spot-starter and emergency option throughout his career.
NFL Career Highlights
Mullens’ most productive season came in 2018 with the San Francisco 49ers, where he threw for 2,277 yards and 13 touchdowns in eight starts. His debut performance remains one of the most efficient in NFL history for a quarterback making his first start. He has appeared in games with multiple teams, demonstrating his ability to learn different offensive systems quickly. His career passer rating of 88.3 and completion percentage of 66.0% indicate solid efficiency when given opportunities to play.
College Career Records
At Southern Miss from 2013 to 2016, Mullens played in 44 games and started 41. He completed 928 of 1,546 pass attempts for 11,994 yards and 87 touchdowns, finishing as the career passing leader in every statistical category. His single-season records of 4,476 passing yards and 38 touchdown passes in 2015 broke the marks previously held by NFL Hall of Famer Brett Favre. Mullens earned C-USA Offensive Player of the Year honors and was named Second-team All-C-USA in 2015 after leading the Golden Eagles to a 9-5 record and their first bowl appearance in years.
| Competition | Games | Passing Yards | Touchdowns | INT | Completion % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NFL Career | 24 | 6,448 | 34 | 31 | 66.0 |
| Southern Miss (2013–2016) | 44 | 11,994 | 87 | – | – |
Nick Mullens Family
Family Background and Athletic Lineage
Mullens comes from a family with deep roots in American athletics. His grandfather, Ernie Tabor, pitched in the Philadelphia Phillies minor league system during the 1950s, providing an early connection to professional sports. His uncle, Scott Tabor, continued the family’s athletic tradition by playing baseball for the Arkansas Razorbacks, where he set the school record for most career wins. Scott also played professionally in the minor leagues, maintaining the family’s presence in competitive baseball. This athletic heritage has clearly influenced Mullens’ development as a professional athlete.
Personal Life
Mullens is married to Haleigh Mullens. The couple welcomed their first child, a son, on August 30, 2019. Mullens maintains a presence on Instagram under the handle nickmullens. Despite his transient NFL career with multiple team transitions, he has maintained family stability throughout his professional journey. He graduated from Spain Park High School in Hoover, Alabama, where his football career began to attract significant college attention.
2025 Season Performance
Entering the 2025 season with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Mullens brings veteran experience to a franchise looking to stabilize its quarterback situation. His role with the team remains that of a reliable backup, prepared to step in if needed due to injury or performance issues. Mullens’ journeyman career across five franchises in eight seasons demonstrates his value as a professional who can adapt quickly to new offensive systems and team cultures. His familiarity with being a backup and emergency starter makes him a dependable veteran presence in the locker room. The Jaguars benefit from having a quarterback who has started games in the NFL and understands the demands of professional football at the highest level.