Jordan Palmer
Jordan William Palmer (born May 30, 1984) is an American football coach and former professional quarterback, renowned for his expertise in quarterback development and training numerous top NFL draft prospects.[1] As the younger brother of longtime NFL quarterback Carson Palmer, he played seven seasons in the National Football League (NFL) primarily as a backup, appearing for teams including the Washington Redskins, Cincinnati Bengals, Chicago Bears, Buffalo Bills, Tennessee Titans, and Jacksonville Jaguars, where he recorded just 18 career pass attempts without a touchdown.[1] After retiring from playing, Palmer transitioned into coaching, founding the QB Summit in Orange County, California—a comprehensive program that trains quarterbacks from youth levels through the NFL, emphasizing mechanical, mental, and competitive skills.[2] Palmer's coaching career gained prominence through his work with Elite 11, a premier high school quarterback showcase, where he has served as an ambassador and instructor since his teenage years.[3] He has become the preeminent private quarterback coach for NFL draft hopefuls, mentoring stars such as Josh Allen (Buffalo Bills), Joe Burrow (Cincinnati Bengals, No. 1 overall pick in 2020), Sam Darnold (Seattle Seahawks), and Bo Nix (Denver Broncos)[4], many of whom credit his holistic approach for their professional success.[3] In August 2022, Palmer expanded his influence by joining the XFL (now part of the United Football League) as Director of Quarterback Development, where he oversees league-wide QB training and evaluation to elevate the professional spring football product.[5] Beyond coaching, Palmer is an entrepreneur, co-founding Thread Performance, a sports apparel and equipment brand tailored for athletes, and maintains an active role in quarterback analysis through podcasts, summits, and online content as of 2025.[6] His work has transformed him from an overlooked NFL journeyman into a pivotal figure in modern quarterback preparation, earning praise for fostering a supportive community among elite prospects.[3]Early life
Family background
Jordan Palmer was born on May 30, 1984, in Westlake Village, California, the youngest of four children to parents Bill and Dana Palmer.[7] His father, Bill Palmer, worked in the insurance industry, which led to consideration of a relocation to Connecticut during the children's upbringing; however, the family remained in Southern California, with Bill commuting bicoastally for four years.[8] The Palmers settled in Laguna Hills, California, where Jordan and his siblings grew up in a supportive environment that emphasized education and personal development over athletic success alone.[9] Dana Palmer, Jordan's mother, played a key role in fostering the family's values, often expressing that her children's paths were guided by a larger plan beyond football achievements.[10] Bill Palmer, who had moved to Gilbert, Arizona, at age 10 in 1953 with his own family, discouraged his eldest son from pursuing football early on but later supported his sons' interests in the sport.[11] The family's roots trace back to Arizona through Bill's lineage, though their primary home base remained in Orange County, California, providing a stable backdrop for Jordan's early years.[12] Jordan's siblings include his older brother Robert, sister Jennifer Santos, and brother Carson Palmer, a prominent NFL quarterback.[13] The brothers shared a close bond, with Carson, five years Jordan's senior, often serving as an inspiration and playmate in backyard football games, though the family dynamic prioritized normalcy amid Carson's rising fame.[14] Jennifer, the eldest sibling after Robert, maintained family ties in California, contributing to a tight-knit household that valued humor and mutual support.[12] This familial structure, marked by the near-move yet rooted in Midwestern-like values from Bill's Arizona upbringing, shaped Jordan's perspective on resilience and independence.[15]High school career
Jordan Palmer began his high school football career at Santa Margarita Catholic High School in Rancho Santa Margarita, California, spending his freshman and sophomore seasons there.[15] He transferred to Mission Viejo High School in Mission Viejo, California, ahead of his junior year, where he joined a program known for its quarterback development under head coach Bob Johnson, the founder of the Elite 11 quarterback camp.[15][16] As a junior in 2001, Palmer saw action as a backup quarterback, completing 108 of 191 passes for 1,236 yards while contributing to Mission Viejo's offensive efforts.[17] Palmer earned the starting role in his senior season of 2002, leading the Diablos to an undefeated 14-0 record and the CIF Southern Section Division II championship, defeating Hart High School 10-6 in the title game.[18][19] His performance that year, guided by Johnson's emphasis on precision passing and footwork, secured him a Division I scholarship offer from the University of Texas at El Paso—the only such offer he received coming out of high school.[17] Earlier in his high school years, at age 15 in 1999, Palmer attended the inaugural Elite 11 camp in San Juan Capistrano, California, assisting with tasks like shagging balls and filling water cups, an experience that sparked his interest in quarterback training.[3]College career
University of Texas at El Paso
Jordan Palmer enrolled at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) in 2002 and redshirted his first year before becoming the starting quarterback for the Miners from 2003 to 2006.[20] Over his four seasons, he appeared in 46 games, establishing himself as one of the program's most prolific passers.[21] As a redshirt freshman in 2003, Palmer threw for 1,168 yards on 98-of-198 passing (49.5% completion rate), with 7 touchdowns and 13 interceptions across 10 games.[21] His sophomore year in 2004 marked significant improvement, as he completed 213 of 366 attempts for 2,818 yards, 26 touchdowns, and 18 interceptions in 12 games, helping UTEP to a 5-6 record.[21] In 2005, Palmer's junior season, he led Conference USA (C-USA) in both passing yards and touchdown passes, amassing 3,503 yards on 258-of-434 attempts (59.4% completion), with 29 touchdowns and 19 interceptions over 12 games.[21] This performance contributed to UTEP's 8-4 record and a spot in the GMAC Bowl, where the Miners lost to Toledo, 13-45.[22] Palmer's senior year in 2006 saw him post a career-high 65.7% completion rate, throwing for 3,595 yards, 26 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions on 282-of-429 attempts in 12 games.[21] He was named to the Maxwell Award watch list that preseason, recognizing his status as a top national player candidate.[23] Despite UTEP finishing 5-7, Palmer's consistency solidified his legacy.[21] Over his UTEP career, Palmer accumulated 11,084 passing yards, 88 touchdowns, and 64 interceptions on 851-of-1,427 attempts (59.6% completion rate), along with 216 rushing attempts for -43 yards and 7 rushing scores.[21] He set every major UTEP passing and total offense record at the time, including career passing yards (11,084), touchdowns (88), completions (851), and attempts (1,427). These marks were later surpassed by Trevor Vittatoe.[24] In recognition of these achievements, Palmer was inducted into the UTEP Athletics Hall of Fame in 2025.[25]| Year | Games | Completions/Attempts | Yards | TDs | INTs | Completion % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 10 | 98/198 | 1,168 | 7 | 13 | 49.5 |
| 2004 | 12 | 213/366 | 2,818 | 26 | 18 | 58.2 |
| 2005 | 12 | 258/434 | 3,503 | 29 | 19 | 59.4 |
| 2006 | 12 | 282/429 | 3,595 | 26 | 14 | 65.7 |
| Career | 46 | 851/1,427 | 11,084 | 88 | 64 | 59.6 |
College statistics
Jordan Palmer's college career at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) showcased his development as a quarterback, with steady improvements in passing efficiency across his four seasons from 2003 to 2006. He appeared in 46 games, starting most of them, and became the program's all-time leader in several passing categories by the end of his tenure. His rushing contributions were minimal and often negative due to sacks absorbed, but he added seven rushing touchdowns to his resume.[21] The following tables summarize Palmer's passing and rushing statistics by year, highlighting his progression from a freshman with completion struggles to a senior who achieved a career-high 65.7% completion rate and 149.6 passer rating in 2006.[21]Passing Statistics
| Year | Games | Completions/Attempts | Completion % | Yards | TDs | INTs | Yards/Attempt | Passer Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 10 | 98/198 | 49.5 | 1,168 | 7 | 13 | 5.9 | 97.6 |
| 2004 | 12 | 213/366 | 58.2 | 2,818 | 26 | 18 | 7.7 | 136.5 |
| 2005 | 12 | 258/434 | 59.4 | 3,503 | 29 | 19 | 8.1 | 140.5 |
| 2006 | 12 | 282/429 | 65.7 | 3,595 | 26 | 14 | 8.4 | 149.6 |
| Career | 46 | 851/1,427 | 59.6 | 11,084 | 88 | 64 | 7.8 | 137.7 |
Rushing Statistics
| Year | Games | Attempts | Yards | Yards/Attempt | TDs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 10 | 67 | 110 | 1.6 | 3 |
| 2004 | 12 | 46 | -17 | -0.4 | 1 |
| 2005 | 12 | 56 | -50 | -0.9 | 2 |
| 2006 | 12 | 47 | -86 | -1.8 | 1 |
| Career | 46 | 216 | -43 | -0.2 | 7 |
Professional playing career
National Football League
Palmer was selected by the Washington Redskins in the sixth round of the 2007 NFL Draft, 205th overall.[7] He spent training camp with the team but was waived prior to the regular season and did not appear in any games.[7] Following his release, Palmer signed with the Cincinnati Bengals in 2008.[1] He remained with the Bengals through the 2010 season, primarily serving on the practice squad and occasionally dressing as the emergency third quarterback.[27] Palmer appeared in four games for the Bengals, completing 10 of 15 passes for 59 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions; his most notable action came in 2008, when he entered in relief during losses to the Pittsburgh Steelers, Baltimore Ravens, and Indianapolis Colts.[7] He also rushed once for four yards during his time with the team.[7] After being released by the Bengals following the 2010 season, Palmer signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2012 but was cut before the regular season began, seeing no game action.[28] In 2013, he joined the Chicago Bears as a free agent, serving as a backup and third-string quarterback but not appearing in any games.[29] Palmer's final NFL stint came in 2014, when he signed with the Buffalo Bills on August 26, 2014, but was released on August 29, 2014, before signing with the Tennessee Titans on December 15, 2014.[30][31][32] With the Titans, he appeared in one game on December 28, 2014, completing 1 of 3 passes for 7 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions, and rushing once for -1 yard.[7] Over his seven-year NFL career, Palmer appeared in five games without starting any, accumulating 66 passing yards on 11 completions out of 18 attempts, alongside two interceptions and three rushing yards on two carries.[7]Arena Football League and United Football League
After being released by the Washington Redskins in 2007 without appearing in any games, Palmer signed with the Arizona Rattlers of the Arena Football League in November of that year.[33] However, before the 2008 AFL season began, he received an offer from the Cincinnati Bengals and opted to join the NFL team instead, forgoing any playing time in the league.[34][35] Palmer's involvement with the United Football League came in 2011, following his release from the Bengals' practice squad. He signed with the Sacramento Mountain Lions in September, seeking an opportunity for more playing time in the upstart league.[36] Despite the move, Palmer was waived by the team just days later without participating in any regular-season games, marking a brief and unfulfilled stint in the UFL.[37] This period represented one of Palmer's attempts to extend his professional career beyond the NFL amid limited opportunities as a backup quarterback.NFL career statistics
Passing statistics
| Year | Team | Games | Completions | Attempts | Completion % | Yards | Avg | Longest | TDs | INTs | Sacks | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | CIN | 3 | 7 | 12 | 58.3 | 41 | 3.4 | 13 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 25.3 |
| 2010 | CIN | 1 | 3 | 3 | 100.0 | 18 | 6.0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 91.7 |
| 2014 | TEN | 1 | 1 | 3 | 33.3 | 7 | 2.3 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 42.4 |
| Career | – | 5 | 11 | 18 | 61.1 | 66 | 3.7 | 13 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 28.7 |
Rushing statistics
| Year | Team | Games | Attempts | Yards | Avg | Longest | TDs | Fumbles | Lost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | CIN | 3 | 1 | 4 | 4.0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2014 | TEN | 1 | 1 | -1 | -1.0 | -1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Career | – | 5 | 2 | 3 | 1.5 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |