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| Brandon Weeden | |
|---|---|
| Name | Brandon Weeden |
| Number | 13, 12 |
| Position | Quarterback |
| Birth date | 14 October 1983 |
| Birth place | Oklahoma City, Oklahoma |
| Weight lb | 225 |
| High school | Edmond Memorial High School |
| College | Oklahoma State |
| Drafted year | 2012 |
| Drafted pick | 22 |
| Past teams | * Cleveland Browns (2012–2013) * Houston Texans (2014) * Tennessee Titans (2014) * Dallas Cowboys (2014–2016) * New York Yankees (spring training) |
| Highlights | * Big 12 offensive achievements |
Brandon Weeden is an American former professional American football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) and is a former professional Major League Baseball (MLB) draftee. After a notable college career at Oklahoma State University in both baseball and football, he entered the NFL as a first-round selection and spent time with the Cleveland Browns, Dallas Cowboys, Tennessee Titans, and Houston Texans. His unconventional path—from minor-league baseball to becoming one of the oldest first-round NFL rookies—drew attention from media outlets including ESPN, NFL Network, and national newspapers like The New York Times and USA Today.
Weeden was born in Oklahoma City and raised in Edmond, Oklahoma, where he attended Edmond Memorial High School. At Edmond Memorial he starred in both baseball and football, earning all-state honors and attracting recruitment interest from programs such as Oklahoma State University, University of Oklahoma, and Arizona State University. His high school teammates and opponents included future collegiate and professional players scouted by organizations like the Major League Baseball Scouting Bureau and the National Football Scouting Service. Local media coverage from outlets including the Oklahoma Gazette and The Oklahoman chronicled his development as a two-sport athlete.
Weeden enrolled at Oklahoma State University, joining the Oklahoma State Cowboys baseball program and later the Oklahoma State Cowboys football team. In baseball he was a right-handed pitcher and was selected in the 2002 Major League Baseball draft by the New York Yankees; he spent time in the Minor League Baseball system with organizations affiliated with the Yankees and faced opponents from teams like the Trenton Thunder and Staten Island Yankees. After returning to Stillwater, Oklahoma and resuming studies at Oklahoma State University–Stillwater, he switched focus to football, competing in the Big 12 Conference under head coach Mike Gundy. As the Cowboys' quarterback he led passing attacks that faced defenses coached by figures such as Bret Bielema and played against rivals including the University of Oklahoma Sooners in the Bedlam Series. His statistical growth and leadership were covered by college football analysts from Sports Illustrated, College Football Playoff commentators, and local broadcasters from ESPN Regional Television.
Entering the 2012 NFL Draft after a collegiate career, Weeden was selected in the first round by the Cleveland Browns, joining teammates and staff including general manager Tom Heckert and head coach Pat Shurmur. He started games as a rookie, competing in the AFC North against teams like the Pittsburgh Steelers, Baltimore Ravens, and Cincinnati Bengals. Following his tenure in Cleveland, he spent time on rosters of the Houston Texans and Tennessee Titans and later served as a backup with the Dallas Cowboys behind quarterbacks such as Tony Romo and Dak Prescott. Throughout his NFL career he worked with coordinators and position coaches from franchises including Bill Callahan, Jason Garrett, and Ken Whisenhunt; he also practiced against notable defensive talents like J.J. Watt and Tyrann Mathieu.
Weeden's NFL statistics include passing attempts, completions, yards, touchdowns, and interceptions accumulated during regular season play for the Browns, Texans, Titans, and Cowboys. His rookie season numbers were compared in analysis pieces by Pro Football Reference and Football Outsiders to quarterbacks from the 2012 NFL Draft class such as Andrew Luck, Robert Griffin III, and Russell Wilson. He became one of the oldest players drafted in the first round, a point highlighted by sports historians and commentators at Bleacher Report, The Athletic, and national networks. Advanced metrics from analytics outlets including Pro Football Focus assessed his performance on passer rating, completion percentage, and adjusted net yards per attempt against league averages published by the NFLPA.
Scouts characterized Weeden as a tall, pocket-oriented passer with a strong arm who operated primarily from pro-style and spread concepts employed at Oklahoma State. Evaluations from the NFL Scouting Combine and pre-draft reports by services like CBS Sports, ESPN Scouts Inc., and WalterFootball emphasized arm strength, downfield accuracy, and pocket presence while noting mobility limitations compared to dual-threat quarterbacks such as Cam Newton. Coaching assessments from staffs including Cleveland Browns and Dallas Cowboys coaches highlighted his grasp of playbooks run in systems influenced by offensive minds like Alex Van Pelt and Scott Linehan. Post-career commentary from analysts at NFL Network and columnists at The Sporting News revisited his strengths in anticipation and timing and weaknesses in processing speed under pressure.
Off the field, Weeden has been involved with charitable initiatives and community outreach typically featured by NFL clubs and local organizations like United Way chapters in Cleveland and Dallas. His personal life and ventures have been profiled by lifestyle and sports outlets including People (magazine), CBS Sports HQ, and regional newspapers. After football, he explored coaching, mentoring, and business opportunities, engaging with institutions and platforms such as Oklahoma State University alumni programs, NFL Players Association events, and private training academies. He has appeared on podcasts and broadcast segments alongside former players and analysts from Barstool Sports, The Ringer, and DAZN to discuss transitions from professional sports to post-athletic careers.
Category:1983 births Category:Living people Category:People from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Category:Oklahoma State Cowboys football players Category:Oklahoma State Cowboys baseball players Category:Cleveland Browns players Category:Dallas Cowboys players