Nathan Peterman Bio
Nathan Michael Peterman (born May 4, 1994) is an American professional football quarterback who has played in the National Football League (NFL) for seven seasons. Peterman played college football for the Pittsburgh Panthers following a stint with the Tennessee Volunteers. He was selected by the Buffalo Bills in the fifth round of the 2017 NFL draft with the 171st overall pick. After struggling during his time with the Bills, Peterman spent the remainder of his career as a backup quarterback with several NFL franchises. In 2026, Peterman transitioned into sports representation, undergoing training to become an agent with Range Sports, focusing on student athlete compensation.
Early Life and Background
Nathan Peterman was born on May 4, 1994, in Jacksonville, Florida. He grew up as the younger son of a pastor, and Peterman has credited his Christian faith with helping him navigate the challenges he faced throughout his football career. He attended Bartram Trail High School in St. Johns, Florida, where he played for the Bears football team. During his senior season, Peterman threw for 2,392 yards and 36 touchdowns, demonstrating the talent that would earn him a four-star recruit rating.
Peterman received scholarship offers from multiple college programs and ultimately chose to commit to the University of Tennessee to play under head coach Derek Dooley. His high school career in Florida laid the foundation for his transition to the collegiate level, where he would face significantly increased competition.
Path to the NFL
Peterman began his collegiate career at Tennessee in 2012, redshirting during his freshman season. He served as a backup quarterback during his early years with the Volunteers, appearing in four games across the 2013 and 2014 seasons. His most notable performance came against number-four-ranked Alabama in 2014, when he earned a start following an injury to the team’s primary quarterback. However, his time at Tennessee was limited due to playing behind other quarterbacks on the depth chart.
After totaling only 94 passing yards and two touchdowns during his Tennessee career, Peterman transferred to the University of Pittsburgh as a graduate transfer in 2015. Under head coach Pat Narduzzi, he entered the season as a backup but quickly earned the starting position after two games. Peterman completed 193 of 314 passes for 2,287 yards, 20 touchdowns, and eight interceptions during his junior season, helping the Panthers finish with an 8-5 record.
His senior season at Pittsburgh proved to be his breakthrough campaign. Peterman had a career-defining performance against eventual National Champion Clemson Tigers on November 12, throwing for 308 yards and five touchdowns in a narrow 43-42 victory that ended Clemson’s otherwise perfect season. He finished the season with 2,855 passing yards, 27 touchdowns, and seven interceptions, solidifying his draft stock.
Nathan Peterman Career
Buffalo Bills (2017-2018)
The Buffalo Bills selected Peterman in the fifth round of the 2017 NFL draft. He competed for the backup quarterback position against T.J. Yates and Cardale Jones, ultimately winning the job after Jones was traded to the Los Angeles Chargers. Peterman made his NFL debut during Week 10 against the New Orleans Saints in relief duty, completing 7 of 10 passes for 79 yards and his first career touchdown pass to tight end Nick O’Leary in the 47-10 loss.
Peterman’s first career start came in Week 11 against the Los Angeles Chargers. The game quickly became infamous, as he threw five interceptions in the first half alone, tying an NFL record for the most interceptions in a player’s first career start. Despite the poor performance, he remained with the team and earned another starting opportunity later in the season when Tyrod Taylor suffered a knee injury. He started against the Indianapolis Colts in a snowstorm, completing 5 of 10 passes for 57 yards and a touchdown before leaving the 13-7 overtime victory with a concussion.
During the 2018 season opener against the Baltimore Ravens, Peterman posted a 0.0 passer rating after completing only 5 of 18 passes for 24 yards and two interceptions. The Bills named Josh Allen the starter shortly afterward, and Peterman was released in November 2018. He finished his Bills career with four total touchdowns, 12 interceptions, and a passer rating of 32.5. His 11 interceptions between 2017 and 2018 remain the most for any quarterback with fewer than 100 passing attempts in NFL history.
Oakland / Las Vegas Raiders (2018-2021)
After working out with the Detroit Lions and Denver Broncos, Peterman was signed to the Oakland Raiders practice squad on December 19, 2018. Raiders head coach Jon Gruden had previously praised Peterman’s college performance. He signed a reserve/future contract with the team in January 2019.
Peterman had a strong preseason in 2019 but was placed on injured reserve with an elbow injury before the regular season. He returned in 2020 and made his Raiders debut in Week 12 against the Atlanta Falcons, completing 3 of 5 passes for 25 yards. He signed a one-year contract extension in February 2021 but was released and re-signed to the practice squad later that year.
Chicago Bears (2022-2023)
On May 11, 2022, Peterman signed with the Chicago Bears. He was released during final roster cuts but joined the practice squad. The Bears promoted him to the active roster in November 2022 after starter Justin Fields suffered an injury. Peterman was signed to the active roster in December 2022 when Trevor Siemian was placed on injured reserve, becoming Fields’ primary backup.
On January 4, 2023, Peterman was named the starter for the Week 18 season finale against the Minnesota Vikings, throwing for 114 yards and a touchdown in the 29-13 loss. He was re-signed to a one-year deal in March 2023 but spent much of the season cycling between the active roster and practice squad before his final release in October.
New Orleans Saints and Las Vegas Raiders (2024)
Peterman signed with the New Orleans Saints on March 18, 2024, but his contract was terminated in August before the regular season. He re-signed with the Las Vegas Raiders in August 2024 but was released during roster cuts.
Atlanta Falcons (2024)
The Atlanta Falcons signed Peterman to their practice squad on September 3, 2024. He remained with the team through the 2024 season before becoming a free agent.
Playing Style and Strengths
Peterman possesses solid size at 6 feet 2 inches and 220 pounds, with decent mobility and arm strength that showed promise during his college career. His college tape displayed accuracy on short-to-intermediate routes and the ability to make plays outside the pocket. However, his transition to the NFL revealed struggles with decision-making under pressure and consistency, particularly when forced into extended playing time earlier than anticipated.
Notable Events and Milestones
Peterman’s five-interception performance in his first career start against the Los Angeles Chargers in 2017 became one of the most memorable debut games in recent NFL history. His 11 interceptions on fewer than 100 passing attempts set an NFL record that highlighted the challenges he faced during his early professional career. Conversely, his career day against Clemson in 2016, when he threw five touchdowns in a victory over the eventual national champions, demonstrated his potential at the collegiate level.
Nathan Peterman Career Statistics
Across his seven NFL seasons, Peterman appeared in limited game action, serving primarily as a backup quarterback for multiple franchises. His career statistics reflect the challenges he faced during his professional career.
NFL Statistics
Peterman completed 85 of 160 passing attempts for 712 yards, four touchdowns, and 13 interceptions over the course of his NFL career, finishing with a passer rating of 39.4. His brief appearances often came in relief situations or during emergency starts due to injuries to starting quarterbacks.
College Statistics
At Pittsburgh, Peterman completed 410 of 644 passes for 5,142 yards, 47 touchdowns, and 15 interceptions across two seasons. His career totals include 2,287 passing yards, 20 touchdowns, and 8 interceptions as a junior, followed by 2,855 passing yards, 27 touchdowns, and 7 interceptions during his senior season.
| Competition | Attempts | Completions | Yards | TD | INT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NFL Career | 160 | 85 | 712 | 4 | 13 |
| Pittsburgh (2015-2016) | 644 | 410 | 5,142 | 47 | 15 |
Nathan Peterman Family
Family Background
Nathan Peterman grew up in Jacksonville, Florida, as the younger son of a pastor. His family background and upbringing played a significant role in shaping his character and values throughout his football journey. Peterman has spoken publicly about how his Christian faith helped him navigate the adversity he faced during his professional career.
Personal Life
Peterman is married to Morgan Peterman (née Shull), whom he met during his time at the University of Tennessee. The couple began dating in college and eventually married. Morgan was his college girlfriend from their Tennessee days. Peterman has credited his wife and family with providing support throughout the challenges of his football career, including during his difficult stretches with the Bills and subsequent teams.
2025 Season Outlook
Following his time with the Atlanta Falcons in 2024, Peterman became a free agent. His NFL career appears to be winding down as he moves into the next phase of his professional life. Rather than pursuing playing opportunities, Peterman shifted his focus to sports representation. In 2026, he began training to become an agent for Range Sports, the agency that represented him during his playing career, with a particular focus on student athlete compensation. This transition reflects his interest in helping athletes navigate the business side of sports as Name, Image, and Likeness opportunities continue to expand in collegiate athletics.