From Underdog to Icon: How Josh Dobbs Transformed from Benchwarmer to Fan Favorite
From an overlooked understudy to a revered icon, witness the awe-inspiring journey of The Passtronaut Josh Dobbs as he conquers the world of football Brace yourself for a heartfelt introduction: Hey, y'all! It's Josh Dobbs, humbled and thrilled to be back home in Minnesota
"Hello, everyone. I'm Josh Dobbs and I am truly honored to be here in Minnesota, introducing myself." This unexpected introduction came from Josh Dobbs, who was not a new player in the preseason but was unexpectedly thrust into his debut for the Minnesota Vikings. Despite not knowing his teammates' full names, he impressively led a game-winning drive.
The 28-year-old quarterback arrived just days before the Vikings' Week 9 game against the Atlanta Falcons after being traded from the Arizona Cardinals. Initially the backup, Dobbs stepped up when rookie Jaren Hall was sidelined with a concussion. He performed admirably, leading the Minnesota Vikings to a 31-28 victory by completing 20 of 30 passes for 158 yards and two touchdowns through the air, as well as one on the ground.
A few months ago, Dobbs was a struggling player in the NFL, but now he has become a well-known figure. His daring running style and degree in aerospace engineering have earned him the nickname "The Passtronaut." He is also known as "Astro Dobbs" and is open to the idea of space travel.
Dobbs expressed his excitement about the increasing commercial opportunities for space travel and the growing number of people pursuing careers as astronauts during his interview on "The Dave Pasch Podcast" in October. "It's really cool to see the amount of commercial opportunities to go to space and the amount of people that have the opportunities to become astronauts. It's on my bucket list. Obviously that's a huge decision to make but it would be cool," Dobbs told the "The Dave Pasch Podcast" in October.
Dobbs reaches for the pylon during the second quarter of the game against the Atlanta Falcons.
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Returning home
Dobbs, adorned in the colors of grey and orange, proudly stands on a platform, raising the Most Valuable Player Trophy after guiding the Tennessee Volunteers to a triumphant win at the 2016 Music City Bowl, marking his final college football game. Alongside his teammate Derek Barnett, Dobbs conducts a section of the packed crowd at Nissan Stadium in Nashville.
Dobbs delivered a stellar performance, throwing for 291 yards and a touchdown, and rushing for 118 yards and three additional scores. This victory marked the first time Tennessee had won three consecutive bowls since Peyton Manning led the team. As a Volunteer, Dobbs set a new program record for rushing yards by a quarterback with 2,160 yards and 32 touchdowns. Additionally, he earned a degree in aerospace engineering and participated in the NFLPA's Virtual Externship Program, working with NASA's Kennedy Space Flight Center during two offseasons.
Despite his accomplishments on the field, Dobbs had to wait until the third day of the 2017 Draft to find his new team. When the Pittsburgh Steelers finally chose him, he was placed in the third-string position on the roster, behind starter Ben Roethlisberger and backup Landry Jones.
Dobbs passes during the Pittsburgh Steelers' game against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium on August 31, 2017.
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During his time in Pennsylvania, Dobbs had limited opportunities and only completed six passes in six games over two years. After he was released from the team in 2019, Dobbs had brief stints with the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Steelers, the Cleveland Browns, and the Detroit Lions, but failed to make a significant impact with any of them.
Last year, Dobbs was brought on by the Tennessee Titans just eight days before the team's pivotal Week 17 game against the Dallas Cowboys. With the starting quarterback Ryan Tannehill injured and rookie Malik Willis struggling, Dobbs made his NFL debut and displayed a strong work ethic and perseverance, even in a losing game.
Starting against his former team, the Jaguars, in Week 18, he knew that a win would secure the division and a playoffs spot for the Titans.
Although Tennessee ultimately did not make it to the postseason, Dobbs had managed to revive his career in just two weeks back in the state where he had initially gained recognition in college football.
In Dobbs we trust
Following the conclusion of the 2022 season, Dobbs' prospects appeared brighter, and it appeared that he would begin the next season as a backup for the Browns after they once again added him to their roster.
Just prior to the start of the new season, Dobbs was traded to the Arizona Cardinals to replace the injured Kyler Murray. This sudden change put him on a team where he was not fully familiar with the playbook or some of his teammates' names.
His abrupt arrival in Arizona also presented challenges for the Cardinals, as they apparently overlooked making his jersey available for fans to purchase.
Despite being predicted to place high in the draft rankings because of their poor record, Dobbs and first-year head coach Jonathan Gannon managed to create a competitive team. They secured their first win of the new season in Week 3 with a surprising 28-16 victory over the Dallas Cowboys.
Dobbs avoids a tackle from Baltimore Ravens linebacker Odafe Oweh.
Christian Petersen/Getty Images
After his eight-game stint with Arizona, Dobbs' reputation was greatly enhanced, to the extent that when Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins suffered a season-ending injury, the franchise turned to Dobbs, despite not winning another game with the team. Once again, Dobbs' ability to perform under pressure was put to the test when he had to step in to play against the Falcons without having taken any reps with the starting linesman.
In his seventh season but only his 17th game, Dobbs defied the odds once again to lead the game-winning drive. Afterward, TV cameras captured Dobbs and Vikings head coach Kevin OConnell sharing a hug, with OConnell offering some words of encouragement to his new quarterback.
"I just said, that's why we brought you here," OConnell explained when asked about his conversation with Dobbs. "This guy has been through tough circumstances and has thrived in situations just like today."
"I told him that he has the support of the guys on the sideline and in the locker room. I'll be by his side every step of the way. Let's see what we can achieve together."
A week later, after more preparation and getting to know his teammates' names, Dobbs led the Vikings to a 27-19 victory against the New Orleans Saints.
Dobbs runs the ball in for a touchdown during the third quarter of the game against the Falcons.
At 28 years old, he threw for a touchdown and scored another with an impressive display of skill, leading Minnesota to another victory. His elusive rushing touchdown left OConnell looking bewildered, with the head coach exclaiming, "I have no idea what just happened."
The legend of "The Passtronaut" was born, with even the official NFL X account featuring the quarterback as its header picture with the caption "in Dobbs we trust." Despite the Vikings losing their next two games, Dobbs has breathed new life into an organization that once believed their season was over.
The quarterback appears to have solidified the starting role in Minnesota for the remainder of the season, despite the return of rookie Jaren Hall. The team's star wide receiver, Justin Jefferson, eagerly anticipates catching passes from Dobbs as he comes back from a lengthy injury hiatus.
"I've enjoyed working with him, learning from each other, and it will benefit us when we're on the field," Jefferson told reporters.
A year ago, it seemed like Dobbs' NFL career was losing steam. However, with his strong performances this season, his prospects have soared, even though he is expected to change teams at the end of the campaign.
