Bears ink QB Hoyer to one-year deal

Statement from the Bears website.

Brian Hoyer

After completing the draft Saturday night, the Bears signed veteran quarterback Brian Hoyer to a one-year contract.

Hoyer, 30, has played eight NFL seasons with the Patriots (2009-11), Steelers (2012), Cardinals (2012), Browns (2013-14) and Texans (2015). He has appeared in 43 games with 26 starts, completing 58.1 percent of his passes for 7,163 yards with 38 touchdowns, 26 interceptions and an 82.2 passer rating.

"I like the idea of having an experienced backup [quarterback]," said general manager Ryan Pace. "It's important for that position and it just gives us security going forward. I think it's key."

The Bears' other two reserve quarterbacks behind starter Jay Cutler—David Fales and Matt Blanchard—have never appeared in an NFL regular-season game.

Hoyer entered the NFL in 2009 with the Patriots as an undrafted free agent out of Michigan State. After appearing in 13 games—all as a reserve—over three seasons with New England, he started one contest with the Cardinals in 2012 and three with the Browns in 2013.

Hoyer's most expanded playing time came in Cleveland in 2014 when Bears offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains was the Browns' quarterbacks coach. The 6-3, 215-pounder appeared in 14 games with 13 starts, completing 55.3 percent of his passes for 3,326 yards with 12 touchdowns, 13 interceptions and a 76.5 passer rating.

Hoyer then had his best season as a pro last year with the Texans, connecting on 60.7 percent of his passes for 2,606 yards with 19 TDs, seven interceptions and a 91.4 passer rating while playing in 11 games with nine starts.

Pace told reporters that Hoyer appealed to the Bears because of his experience, familiarity with Loggains and his performance last season, especially Hoyer's 19-7 touchdown-to-interception ratio.

"When he's played, he's been productive," Pace said. "I like that Dowell has been with him, has a lot of comfort with him. I've watched him play over the years. He's a very intelligent player. I know he's got a strong work ethic because we've got coaches that have been with him. I think he's a really good piece to add to the mix.

"Like we've talked about in free agency—I love it when we have familiarity with these guys from coaches. I feel like it reduces some of the risk and some of the questions we may have. Dowell was passionate about this player, and then watching the tape, I was too. I'm glad we got him in the mix."

Pace is confident that Hoyer will be an excellent addition to the Bears' quarterback room.

"We always ask ourselves, ‘What kind of teammate are they? Are they unselfish? Are they for the better of the team?'" Pace said. "Hoyer definitely fits all those qualities, talking to Dowell.

"That quarterback room is a tight-knit room. You're always conscious of who you're putting in there. Hoyer is a really intelligent player. Those guys spend a lot of hours together. So you think about all the film they watch when they're studying the opponent. It's nice to have a guy with that kind of experience and that kind of background to kind of pair with Jay as we're preparing for opponents."