Who Is Brady Cook?

Brady Cook is an American football quarterback who played his college football at the University of Missouri before entering the NFL with the New York Jets as an undrafted free agent in 2025.
As of August 2026, Cook remains on the Jets roster and wears No. 4. The official NFL roster lists him at 6-foot-2 and 215 pounds with Missouri as his college.
Cook has already experienced an unusual NFL path. Rather than being selected in the 2025 NFL Draft, he signed with New York as an undrafted free agent. He later appeared in five regular-season games for the Jets during the 2025 season.
Brady Cook College
Cook spent five seasons with Missouri from 2020 through 2024. He developed from a young quarterback into one of the most productive passers in Tigers history.
Missouri’s official records credit Cook with 46 career games and 39 starts. He completed 746 of 1,139 passes for 9,013 yards, 49 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. He also rushed for 1,209 yards and 20 touchdowns, giving him more than 10,000 total offensive yards.
His college career also included several notable achievements. Cook was a three-time Missouri team captain and earned multiple academic honors. He also won MVP honors in the 2021 Armed Forces Bowl, 2023 Cotton Bowl and 2024 Music City Bowl.
Missouri Career Stats
| Season | Games | Passing Yards | TDs | INTs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 3 | 72 | 1 | 0 |
| 2021 | 6 | 588 | 3 | 0 |
| 2022 | 13 | 2,739 | 14 | 7 |
| 2023 | 13 | 3,317 | 21 | 6 |
| 2024 | 12 | 2,535 | 11 | 2 |
Sports-Reference lists Cook’s college career at 9,251 passing yards and 50 touchdown passes when bowl statistics are included in its database presentation.
The exact totals can differ slightly between statistical databases because of how postseason games and records are incorporated. Missouri’s official career record lists 9,013 passing yards, 49 passing touchdowns and 15 interceptions across 46 games.
Brady Cook 2024 Stats
Cook’s final Missouri season showed both his efficiency and his ability to protect the football.
In 12 games in 2024, he completed 201 of 321 passes for 2,535 yards, 11 touchdowns and only two interceptions. He also rushed for 223 yards and five touchdowns.
His 2024 season ended with a strong performance against Iowa in the Music City Bowl. Cook threw for 287 yards and also contributed as a runner, earning bowl MVP honors.
Brady Cook NFL Draft
Was Brady Cook drafted?
No. Brady Cook was not selected in the 2025 NFL Draft.
After the draft ended, Cook joined the New York Jets as an undrafted free agent. The Jets officially announced his signing on May 9, 2025, as part of a group of 15 undrafted free agents.
NFL.com subsequently ranked Cook among its notable undrafted rookie quarterbacks, placing him third among the listed quarterback prospects who signed with teams after the draft.
Going undrafted did not end Cook’s NFL opportunity. His college production, experience and ability to operate an offense gave him a chance to compete for a roster spot.
Brady Cook and the Jets
Cook joined the Jets in 2025 and initially spent time competing for a place on the roster.
He was placed on New York’s practice squad after training camp. The Jets then elevated him to the active roster for their Week 2 matchup against Tampa Bay when Justin Fields was in concussion protocol. Cook served as Tyrod Taylor’s backup in that game.
Cook eventually appeared in five regular-season games during the 2025 season, making four starts.
According to NFL.com, he completed 88 of 153 passes for 739 yards, two touchdowns and seven interceptions. He also rushed 13 times for 49 yards.
Brady Cook 2025 NFL Stats
| Category | 2025 |
| Games | 5 |
| Starts | 4 |
| Completions | 88 |
| Attempts | 153 |
| Completion rate | 57.5% |
| Passing yards | 739 |
| Passing TDs | 2 |
| Interceptions | 7 |
| Passer rating | 55.4 |
| Rushing yards | 49 |
These numbers represent Cook’s first NFL regular-season action.
Brady Cook in 2026
Cook entered the 2026 offseason competing for a role in a changing Jets quarterback room.
The Jets selected Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik in the fourth round of the 2026 NFL Draft, adding another young quarterback to the competition.
As training camp progressed, reports described Cook as being firmly in the competition for a roster spot and backup quarterback role.
The current NFL roster, however, lists Cook as an active Jets quarterback.
A recent New York Post report said Geno Smith was the projected starter while Klubnik, Bailey Zappe and Cook were competing for the backup role heading toward the regular season.
Brady Cook High School
Cook attended Chaminade College Preparatory School in St. Louis, Missouri.
He was a productive high school quarterback and graduated in 2020. MaxPreps credits him with 6,403 passing yards and 60 touchdown passes across his varsity career. He also rushed for 655 yards and 10 touchdowns.
His senior season was particularly impressive. In 12 games during the 2019-20 season, Cook threw for 3,194 yards and 33 touchdowns while completing 58.6% of his passes. He also rushed for 375 yards and three touchdowns.
Those numbers helped establish Cook as a legitimate college quarterback prospect before he eventually committed to Missouri.
What Makes Brady Cook Good?
There are several reasons Cook has continued to earn opportunities despite going undrafted.
Experience
Cook started 39 games at Missouri and finished with a 26-13 record as a starter, according to the university’s official records. That experience gave him significant exposure to high-level college competition.
Mobility
Cook was never simply a pocket passer. He finished his Missouri career with 1,209 rushing yards and 20 rushing touchdowns. His ability to make plays with his legs added another dimension to the Tigers’ offense.
Ball Security
His final college season was especially encouraging in this area. Cook threw only two interceptions on 321 attempts in 2024.
Leadership
Cook was a three-time team captain at Missouri. His leadership also earned him recognition for academic achievement and character, including Academic All-America honors.
What Are Brady Cook’s Weaknesses?
Cook’s NFL statistics also show why establishing himself as a long-term starter remains a challenge.
His 2025 rookie season produced a 57.5% completion rate, 739 passing yards, two touchdowns and seven interceptions. His 55.4 passer rating shows that his transition to the NFL was difficult.
The biggest question is whether Cook can improve his accuracy, decision-making and consistency against NFL defenses. His college résumé shows plenty of promise, but NFL quarterback evaluation is based heavily on how a player performs under professional pressure.
Is Brady Cook Good?
Brady Cook is a talented and experienced quarterback, but it is too early to call him an established NFL starter.
His college résumé is impressive. He produced more than 9,000 passing yards, 1,200 rushing yards and 69 total touchdowns in Missouri’s official career records. He also won 26 games as a starter and served as a team captain three times.
However, his first NFL season exposed areas that need improvement. The seven interceptions against two touchdowns in his five 2025 appearances underline the gap between his college success and NFL production.
For the Jets, Cook’s value in 2026 is therefore tied to development. If he can improve his processing and accuracy while retaining his mobility and leadership, he has a chance to remain in the NFL quarterback conversation.
Brady Cook: Jets Outlook
Cook’s 2026 situation is one of the more interesting quarterback battles on the Jets roster.
Geno Smith is positioned as the starter, while Cook is competing with other quarterbacks for the backup and developmental roles. The addition of Klubnik means the Jets have invested another draft pick in the position, increasing the competition.
Still, Cook has something the younger quarterbacks do not: actual NFL game experience.
That experience could prove valuable during preseason and roster decisions. His ability to play both inside and outside the pocket, combined with his Missouri résumé, gives him a legitimate case to remain with New York.
FAQs
Was Brady Cook drafted?
No. Cook went undrafted in 2025 and signed with the New York Jets as an undrafted free agent.
What college did Brady Cook attend?
Brady Cook played quarterback at the University of Missouri.
What are Brady Cook’s NFL stats?
In five NFL games in 2025, Cook completed 88 of 153 passes for 739 yards, two touchdowns and seven interceptions. He also rushed for 49 yards.
What high school did Brady Cook attend?
Cook attended Chaminade College Preparatory School in St. Louis, Missouri.
Is Brady Cook on the Jets?
Yes. The NFL’s 2026 Jets roster lists Brady Cook as an active quarterback wearing No. 4.
How tall is Brady Cook?
Cook is listed at 6-foot-2 and 215 pounds on the current Jets roster.
Final Take
Brady Cook’s journey from Chaminade Prep to Missouri and then to the New York Jets is a story of steady development rather than an overnight NFL breakthrough. He became one of Missouri’s most productive quarterbacks, finished with more than 10,000 total offensive yards in the Tigers’ official records and earned an NFL opportunity despite going undrafted.
His first NFL season was inconsistent, but Cook remains on the Jets’ 2026 roster and has another opportunity to prove that his college production can translate into a sustainable NFL career.
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