There’s a new quarterback in town for the Atlanta Falcons. Former DII standout Jack Strand has been taking first-team reps during training camp ahead of the 2026 season. 

With fellow quarterbacks Tua Tagovailoa and Michael Penix Jr. getting back from injuries, Strand has been taking snaps.

As the 2026 NFL season prepares to kick off, here are six things you need to know about the Minnesota State Moorhead alum.  

1. He signed as an UDFA 

Strand signed with the Falcons as an undrafted free agent in 2026, the first MSU Moorhead Dragon to be signed by an NFL team since Damon Gibson and the Green Bay Packers in 2017. 

Jack Strand passing for MSU-M

MSUM has had three players selected in the NFL draft in program history, but only two have gone on to appear in a regular-season NFL game (Mark Reed in 1983 and Ted Nemzek in 1930). 

2. Strand excelled in the classroom

The Falcons rookie was a threat on the field and the classroom, studying engineering physics during his time at MSUM. 

Strand held a 3.87 GPA throughout college and finished as a finalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy award for academic excellence in 2025. 

3. He will wear No. 18

Strand took to the Falcons’ practice field wearing No. 18. Some notable former Falcons who have repped that number include QB Kirk Cousins, WR Calvin Ridley and WR Taylor Gabriel. 

Jack Strand passing for Falcons

4. He had a record-breaking collegiate career

The 6-foot-5, 240-pound quarterback is considered one of the greatest MSUM players of all time, holding every major passing record in program history after his junior year. 

@JackStrand5 ripping it at @TheAmericanBowl 🔥 pic.twitter.com/2iJA1OOiUJ

— College Transfer Portal (@CollegeFBPortal) January 18, 2026

Strand earned NSIC Offensive Player of the Year honors in 2023 and 2025, becoming the first Dragon to hold that title since 2007. He ranks 10th all-time in DII history with 13,161 passing yards and is tied for fifth in passing touchdowns with 126.

After his 3,546 yard and 42 touchdown senior year, he was finished fourth in the Harlan Hill Trophy voting, becoming the first finalist in MSUM program history.

Season
Comp.
Att.
Yards
TD
INT

2022
230
356
2,280
16
13

2023
370
550
3,914
36
10

2024
344
564
3,421
32
13

2025
303
483
3,546
42
14

5. DII football runs in the family

Following in Strand’s DII footsteps is his younger brother Zeke Strand. The redshirt freshmen plays tight end for the Augustana Vikings. 

Jack Strand passing for MSU-M

6. He is a native of Bloomer, Wisconsin

Strand is from a tiny midwest town known as Bloomer, Wis. — the jump rope capital of the world — which has a population around 3,600. That’s a little bit different than Atlanta’s 534,000 residents. 

He played football and baseball at Bloomer High School, running a Wing-T/double wing system before arriving at MSUM where he broke multiple passing records.