Football | 8/14/2026 9:08:00 PM
ATLANTA, Ga. – Former Minnesota State Moorhead quarterback
Jack Strand made his NFL preseason debut for the Atlanta Falcons on Friday evening. Strand played the entire second half versus the Denver Broncos in Atlanta's preseason opener.
Strand began the second half at quarterback for Atlanta, running his first professional play at 14:54 in the third quarter. The Bloomer, Wis., native completed a pass on his first drive, a three-yard swing pass to running back Nathan Carter. While the Falcons would punt on Strand's first drive, the quarterback continued to look sharp on series two.
To open his second drive, Strand fired a pass to tight end Joshua Simon. After a strong run from Simon after the catch, Strand had tallied an 18-yard completion. Atlanta would punt to conclude the series with Strand completing two of four pass attempts for 21 yards. Simon and Strand continued to foster a strong connection following a Broncos fumble. Strand found Simon over the middle once more for a 10-yard gain, landing at the Denver five-yard line.
A few plays later at the Broncos one-yard line, Strand had his number called. The Dragon great capitalized, scoring on a quarterback keeper for his first professional touchdown. Strand's touchdown came with an array of claps and cheers from Falcons fans inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium, giving Atlanta its first points of the evening. Fellow quarterbacks Michael Penix Jr. and Tua Tagovailoa hand-delivered the scoring football to Strand on the sidelines.
Atlanta would not regain possession until the 11:54 mark of the fourth quarter. Strand would complete a three-yard pass to tight end Nick Muse on the drive before Atlanta was forced to punt. The Falcons would have one final possession with just over four minutes to play in the game. Strand turned in a pair of completions for 12 yards to Muse and wide receiver Kristian Wilkerson. The quarterback also used his legs again on a fourth and short to extend the series. Denver would claim the contest 27-7 with Strand finishing six of 12 passing for 50 yards and a rushing touchdown.
"Played like a rookie where there is some really good stuff and there is some stuff we will clean up, but that's the great thing about Jack," said Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski postgame when asked to evaluate Strand. "He wants to be coached, very intelligent young man. We'll get back on it with him, but again, a young man that I think is ascending."
Strand, a four-year starter at quarterback for the Dragons, signed with Atlanta in April following the 2026 NFL Draft. He holds every school passing record (career and single-season) while also securing NSIC career records in passing yards, pass completions and passing touchdowns. In NCAA Division II history, Strand ranks ninth in career pass yards per game (313.4), 10
th in career passing yards (13,161) and is tied for fifth all-time in career passing touchdowns (126).
He was a four-time All-NSIC selection, earning the league's Offensive Player of the Year Award twice (2023, 2025). In his career, Strand earned eight All-America certificates, including five in his senior season alone. The quarterback was a three-time nominee for the Harlon Hill Trophy, placing fourth in national voting in 2025.
Mark Reed (1983, Baltimore Colts) and Ted Nemzek (1930, Green Bay Packers) are the only Dragon alumni who have played in an NFL regular season game. Strand and the Falcons will match up against the Indianapolis Colts on Saturday, August 22 at noon.
