TUCSON, ARIZONA - DECEMBER 30: An Ohio Bobcats helmet is seen before the Barstool Sports Arizona Bowl against the Wyoming Cowboys at Arizona Stadium on December 30, 2022 in Tucson, Arizona. The Bobcats defeated the Cowboys 30-27. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images)
Reports indicate that the New England Patriots have cut ties with quarterback Nathan Rourke. This decision follows closely on the heels of the Patriots drafting two quarterbacks in the 2024 NFL Draft: Drake Maye from North Carolina as the third overall pick and Joe Milton III from Tennessee in the sixth round.
Rourke, aged 25, joined the Patriots towards the end of the 2023 season after the team claimed him off waivers in December. Previously, he had a stint with the Jacksonville Jaguars, who signed him to their practice squad in January 2023 before releasing him later in the year.
Originally hailing from Ontario, Canada, Rourke spent two seasons with the Canadian Football League’s B.C. Lions from 2021 to 2022. He was drafted by the Lions in the second round of the 2020 CFL Draft after going undrafted in the NFL Draft of the same year.
Before venturing into professional football, Rourke played one season at Fort Scott Community College, followed by his sophomore through senior seasons at Ohio University. During his time at Ohio, he started as quarterback for three seasons, amassing impressive stats of 7,457 passing yards, 60 touchdowns, and 20 interceptions across 39 games. Rourke’s achievements included being named First Team All-MAC in 2019 and Second Team All-MAC in both 2018 and 2017.
In his debut CFL season, Rourke threw for 754 yards, three touchdowns, and five interceptions. He then clinched the league’s Most Outstanding Canadian award – akin to Most Valuable Player – in his second CFL season, setting a record with a 78.7% completion rate by completing 255 of 324 passes for 3,349 yards, 25 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. Additionally, he showcased his dual-threat ability by rushing for 304 yards and seven touchdowns.
Interestingly, Rourke’s younger brother, Kurtis, followed in his footsteps as the starting quarterback for the Ohio Bobcats from 2020 to 2023, earning accolades such as the MAC Offensive Player of the Year in 2022.
