Ben DiNucci

Ben DiNucci Bio

Benjamin Anthony DiNucci is an American former professional football quarterback who played in both the NFL and XFL. He played college football for the Pittsburgh Panthers and James Madison Dukes before being selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the seventh round of the 2020 NFL Draft. DiNucci has since spent time with multiple NFL franchises and the Seattle Sea Dragons of the XFL, where he led the league in passing yards during the 2023 season. He currently works as a college football commentator for CBS Sports.

Early Life and Background

DiNucci was born on November 24, 1996, in Atlanta, Georgia. He attended Pine-Richland High School in Gibsonia, Pennsylvania, where he became a starting quarterback as a sophomore. His high school career was marked by record-setting performances, including a WPIAL-record 4,269 passing yards during his senior season with 46 touchdowns and just nine interceptions.

DiNucci led Pine-Richland to a 15-1 record and a state AAAA championship game appearance. He earned multiple prestigious honors, including Gatorade Player of the Year for the state of Pennsylvania, second-team USA TODAY All-American, and Pennsylvania Sports Writers Class AAAA Player of the Year. He finished his high school career with 7,619 passing yards and 72 touchdowns.

Path to Professional Football

Although DiNucci originally intended to enroll at the University of Pennsylvania, he decommitted and accepted a football scholarship from the University of Pittsburgh after Pat Narduzzi was hired as the new head coach. As a redshirt freshman, he served as a backup quarterback behind Nathan Peterman. His first significant game experience came in the 2016 Pinstripe Bowl, where he threw his first college touchdown pass against Northwestern University.

As a sophomore, DiNucci won the starting quarterback job before the seventh game of the season. He eventually lost the position to Kenny Pickett and announced his decision to transfer to James Madison University in December. This decision proved pivotal, as he would go on to achieve his most significant collegiate success at the FCS level.

Ben DiNucci Career

James Madison University (2018-2019)

At James Madison, DiNucci became a dominant quarterback in the Colonial Athletic Association. As a junior in 2018, he started all 13 games, passing for 2,275 yards and 16 touchdowns while also contributing 433 rushing yards and nine rushing touchdowns. He earned third-team All-CAA honors that season and had a career-high 316 passing yards against Elon University.

His senior season in 2019 proved to be his breakthrough year. DiNucci started all 16 games and passed for 3,441 yards with 29 touchdowns, completing nearly 71 percent of his passes. He also rushed for 569 yards and seven touchdowns. His performance earned him CAA Offensive Player of the Year honors, first-team All-CAA recognition, and AFCA first-team All-American honors. He led the Dukes to the FCS Championship Game, where they fell to North Dakota State University. DiNucci finished his JMU career ranked fourth in school history with 45 passing touchdowns and 5,716 passing yards.

Dallas Cowboys (2020-2022)

DiNucci was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the seventh round with the 231st overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. He made his NFL debut in relief against the Arizona Cardinals on October 19, 2020. The following week, he earned his first career start against the Philadelphia Eagles due to Andy Dalton being in concussion protocol. DiNucci completed 21 of 40 passes for 180 yards in the 23-9 loss, though he struggled with two fumbles and was sacked four times.

DiNucci was waived by the Cowboys at the end of the 2021 preseason but signed to their practice squad. He signed a reserve/future contract with the team in January 2022 before being waived again in August.

Seattle Sea Dragons and XFL (2023)

DiNucci joined the XFL in 2023, signing with the Seattle Sea Dragons after being selected in the league’s draft. He started 10 games and guided the team to a 7-3 record and a playoff berth. He led the entire XFL in passing yards with 2,671, attempts with 374, and completions with 272, while ranking second in passing touchdowns with 20. His performance made him the XFL passing yards leader for the 2023 season. He was released from his contract in May 2023.

Denver Broncos (2023-2024, 2026)

On May 16, 2023, DiNucci signed with the Denver Broncos following a tryout at the team’s rookie minicamp. He was waived during final roster cuts but re-signed to the practice squad. He signed another reserve/future contract in January 2024 before being waived in May 2024. DiNucci returned to the Broncos in January 2026, signing to their practice squad following a season-ending injury to quarterback Bo Nix.

Buffalo Bills (2024)

DiNucci signed with the Buffalo Bills in August 2024 after Shane Buechele suffered a neck injury. He was released later that same month.

New Orleans Saints (2024-2025)

In December 2024, DiNucci joined the New Orleans Saints’ practice squad following an injury to quarterback Derek Carr. He signed a reserve-future contract in January 2025 but was released in April.

Atlanta Falcons (2025)

DiNucci signed with the Atlanta Falcons in August 2025 but was released during preliminary roster cuts later that month.

Ben DiNucci Career Wins

DiNucci accumulated notable statistics across collegiate and alternative professional leagues. His collegiate career at James Madison saw him pass for over 5,700 yards and 45 touchdowns across two seasons. In the XFL, he demonstrated his passing ability by leading the league in passing yards during the 2023 season with the Seattle Sea Dragons.

XFL Highlights

In his lone XFL season with the Seattle Sea Dragons in 2023, DiNucci started 10 games and led the league in passing yards (2,671), attempts (374), and completions (272). He also ranked second in the league with 20 passing touchdowns. His performance helped guide the Sea Dragons to a 7-3 regular-season record and a playoff berth, establishing him as one of the top quarterbacks in the XFL during that season.

Other Achievements

DiNucci’s collegiate career at James Madison produced impressive numbers, including a career-high 3,441 passing yards and 29 touchdowns during his senior season in 2019. His 29 touchdown passes that season helped earn him CAA Offensive Player of the Year honors while leading the Dukes to an FCS Championship Game appearance. In his NFL career, he appeared in games for the Dallas Cowboys, completing 23 of 43 passes for 219 yards across limited appearances.

Ben DiNucci Family

Personal Life

Following his departure from the Atlanta Falcons in August 2025, DiNucci transitioned into broadcasting. He became a college football color commentator for CBS Sports, making his debut on August 30, 2025, for the Bucknell versus Air Force game. This move marked a new chapter in his football career, leveraging his experience as a professional quarterback to provide expert analysis for college football broadcasts.

2025 Season Performance

DiNucci joined the Atlanta Falcons in August 2025 during training camp. He was released during preliminary roster cuts as the team finalized its quarterback depth chart. Following his release, DiNucci pivoted to a career in sports media, joining CBS Sports as a college football commentator. His broadcasting debut came in late August 2025, marking his transition from player to analyst in the sports industry.