Longtime backup quarterback Brian Hoyer appears to be on his way out of New England, according to Sirius XM Radio’s Adam Caplan. The Patriots brought Hoyer back for the third time in 2020 but have plans to move on from him this offseason. 
Hoyer originally signed with the Patriots as an undrafted free agent out of Michigan State in 2009. The previous season had seen star passer Tom Brady lost for the year to a torn ACL and MCL and required backup quarterback Matt Cassel to lead the Patriots. Cassel’s performance in Brady’s stead would earn him a new contract as the Chief’s starter in 2009. With Cassel gone, Hoyer took over the main role as Brady’s backup.
Just prior to the 2012 season, the Patriots released Hoyer as they decided to move forward with Ryan Mallett as their primary backup passer. Hoyer signed with the Steelers following injuries to Ben Roethlisberger and Byron Leftwich but never saw the field while backing up Charlie Batch. Two days after being released by Pittsburgh, Hoyer signed with the Cardinals, with whom he earned the first start of his career in the season finale after an injury to Ryan Lindley.
The following season saw Hoyer sign with his hometown team, the Browns. In Cleveland, Hoyer would see the most success in his career. Following an injury to Brandon Weeden, the Browns passed over backup Jason Campbell and started Hoyer. After earning his first-career win, Hoyer started the next two games (both wins), before suffering an ACL tear in that third start of the year. After recovering, Hoyer was tabbed as the starter for 2014 as Weeden and Campbell departed in free agency. He competed for the job with rookie first-round pick Johnny Manziel. Hoyer had an impressive 6-3 start to the season, dropping two games in heartbreaking fashion, before losing three of the next four, prompting a move to start Manziel. Hoyer went 7-6 as a starter that year.
Following the expiration of his contract in Cleveland, Hoyer signed with the Texans, where he competed with former teammate, Mallett, for the starting job. Houston went back and forth between the two for the year as Hoyer went 5-4 as a starter and threw an impressive 19 touchdowns to seven interceptions. The Texans would release Hoyer one year into a two-year deal, and he would sign with the Bears the following year. Backing up Jay Cutler, Hoyer got five starts in Chicago, throwing for a career-high 240.8 yards per game and six touchdowns with no interceptions.
In 2017, Hoyer…