Jack Strand has spent the preseason doing just about everything the Atlanta Falcons could have hoped for from an undrafted rookie quarterback.
He has made plays. He has put himself in the roster conversation. And, perhaps most importantly, he has given Falcons fans something to talk about. Then came the confession.
Falcons Fans Have Fun With Jack Strand’s Childhood LoyaltyStrand shared that he grew up a New England Patriots fan in an interview with Joe Patrick on Wednesday.
He’s trying to win a job in Atlanta, so it was an amusing admission considering the history between the two franchises. Falcons fans have not exactly forgotten Super Bowl 51, when Atlanta blew a 28-3 lead and watched the Patriots rally for a memorable comeback.
Strand, however, insists there was nothing complicated behind his childhood choice.
“I grew up a Patriots fan because I liked the colors. I was really young, don’t worry,” he said.
That explanation gave Falcons fans an opportunity to have some fun at the rookie’s expense.
“Strand read the room 😭,” a fan wrote.
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“Honeymoon phase over, tell him to pack his bags,” another fan commented.
“Haha, it’s all good. You like who you like, but you’re playing on the Falcons now,” one fan said.
“This breaks my heart, but we still love you Jack 🥲,” another fan remarked.
“Cut him,” another wrote.
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The reaction was mostly lighthearted. After all, Strand has done enough on the field to make it increasingly difficult for Atlanta fans to stay mad at him. The undrafted rookie from Minnesota State-Moorhead had a noticeable Saturday when Atlanta responded to a disappointing preseason opener by overwhelming the Indianapolis Colts 34-6 at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Strand was a big reason for the win.
He completed 12 of 17 passes for 212 yards and a touchdown and added a rushing touchdown to his reel. The performance gave Atlanta another look at a quarterback who was not expected to be one of the team’s best preseason players when camp opened.
With the 53-man roster deadline approaching, Strand has given the coaching room something to consider. Keeping him would mean finding a place for a player still learning the offense. Cutting him could mean exposing him to waivers and allowing another team to claim a player who has shown talent.
Falcons coach Kevin Stefanski has noticed the progress.
When asked whether Strand could realistically enter the competition for the starting quarterback job, Stefanski did not rule it out. “Yeah, I think with all of our guys, everyone prepares to be the starter,” Stefanski said.
That does not mean Atlanta is suddenly preparing Strand to start Week 1. Stefanski said that the rookie still has work to do.
The Falcons want him to understand the system, recognize defensive looks and continue developing through the process expected of a young quarterback. For now, the message from the coaching staff is simple: keep improving and focus on what is directly in front of him.
The quarterback situation is already crowded enough without adding another contender to the mix.
Michael Penix Jr., who had a 72.8 QB Impact grade in PFN’s proprietary metrics in 2025, was recently cleared for contact after spending roughly nine months recovering from an ACL injury. Stefanski confirmed Penix would return to practice and split first-team reps with Tua Tagovailoa.
Whether Penix plays in the preseason finale against the Miami Dolphins is not yet clear. That competition will attract most of the attention, and realistically, Strand remains a long shot to take the starting job before Week 1 unless circumstances change dramatically.
This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.
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