Browning attended Folsom High School in Folsom, California. At Folsom, Browning had a 4.0 grade point average and set national and state high school records. In 46 games, he completed 1,191 of 1,708 attempts for 16,775 yards and 229 touchdowns, all California records. The 229 touchdowns also broke the national record held by Maty Mauk.[1] As a senior, he threw for a national-record 91 touchdown passes. He also passed for a California record of 5,790 yards, which broke his record from his junior year. Browning was the Gatorade Football Player of the Year during his junior and senior years.[2][3]
In his first year at Washington, Browning became the second ever (in any game) true freshman to start at the quarterback position at UW (the other was Marques Tuiasosopo[6] vs. Oregon in 1997)[7] and the first true freshman to start a season opener for the Huskies. In his first career start, he completed 20 of 34 passes for 150 yards and one interception.[8][9]
Sophomore
In his sophomore year, Browning performed on a much higher level, guiding UW to a 12–2 record, and the Huskies' first conference championship since 2000.[10] He set a new record for touchdowns per attempt at 12.2%. On November 29, he was named Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year and first-team all-Pac-12. Browning came in sixth in the 2016 Heisman Trophy voting, narrowly missing an invitation to attend the award ceremony in New York City.[11] His sixth-place finish is the third-best Heisman voting finish in school history, behind Michael Penix Jr. who finished second and Steve Emtman who finished fourth.
Browning underwent shoulder surgery on his throwing arm a couple of weeks after facing Alabama in the College Football Playoff. His injury was kept secret for nearly two months, and some commentators have speculated as to a connection between the injury and Browning's reduced performance in the later portion of the season.[12]
Junior
Browning started all 13 games of the 2017 season at quarterback, was named to the Academic All-Pac-12 second-team, was an honorable mention All-Pac-12, and broke the UW career touchdown passes record this year. Browning completed 230 of his attempted 336 throws, which was his highest throwing percentage. He threw for 19 touchdowns and had only 5 interceptions throughout the season. He threw for 2,719 yards as well.[13]
Senior
On September 29, Browning became the school's all-time passing leader, against BYU.[14] With the Pac-12 North Division title on the line, Browning led Washington against in-state rival and seventh-ranked Washington State on the road in the 111th Apple Cup. The Huskies won their second Pac-12 title in three years by defeating Utah in the 2018 Pac-12 Football Championship Game. The team was invited to the Rose Bowl, where they were defeated by Ohio State to end the year at 10–4, 7–2 in conference play. Browning finished the season with 3,192 passing yards and 16 touchdown passes.
On April 29, 2019, Browning signed with the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent.[18] He was waived on August 31, 2019, and was signed to the practice squad the next day.[19][20] He signed a reserve/future contract with the Vikings on January 12, 2020.[21]
2020
Browning was waived by the Vikings during final roster cuts on September 5, 2020,[22] but was re-signed to the Vikings practice squad the next day.[23] He signed a reserve/future contract with the Vikings on January 4, 2021.[24]
2021
On August 31, 2021, Browning was waived by the Vikings during final roster cuts.[25]
Cincinnati Bengals
2021
On September 7, 2021, Browning was signed to the Cincinnati Bengals practice squad.[26] He signed a reserve/future contract on February 15, 2022.[27]
2022
Browning competed for the backup quarterback job during the preseason, but was beat out by Brandon Allen.[28] He was waived on August 30, 2022, and signed to the practice squad the next day.[29][30]
2023
Browning signed a reserve/future contract on January 31, 2023.[31] He competed with Trevor Siemian to be the Bengals' backup quarterback throughout training camp in 2023, with Browning eventually winning the job after the third preseason game.[32]
On September 10, 2023, while facing the Cleveland Browns, Browning had his first regular-season snap in the final minutes of the fourth quarter, going 0–1 in passing attempts.[33] On November 16, Browning came in relief of the injured Joe Burrow during the Bengals' Week 11 game against the Baltimore Ravens, completing 8-of-14 passing attempts for 68 yards and a touchdown as the Bengals lost 34–20. The next day, it was revealed Burrow suffered a season-ending injury to his throwing wrist, elevating Browning to the starting role.[34]
On December 4, 2023, Browning won his first NFL game in a 34–31 overtime win over the Jacksonville Jaguars, completing 32 of 37 passes for 354 yards, with one passing touchdown and one rushing touchdown, earning him AFC Offensive Player of the Week honors.[35][36] His 86.5 percent completion rate is the highest all-time in a quarterback’s first or second career start.[37] On December 10, in the third start of his career against the Indianapolis Colts Browning threw for 275 yards and 2 touchdowns with one interception en route to the Bengals 34–14 victory.[38] On December 16, Browning led a 14-point comeback that included two fourth quarter touchdown passes to win 27–24 in overtime against the Vikings, having been down 17–3 entering the fourth quarter.[39] With this win he became the first Bengals quarterback since Boomer Esiason to win three of his first four starts.[40]
2024
Browning re-signed with the Bengals on a two-year contract on April 23, 2024.[41] He was once again named the backup quarterback to start the season.[42]
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