In terms of quarterbacking, Brian Hoyer has been in just about every situation you could imagine throughout his 15-year NFL career.
With all eyes on the Patriots QBs this preseason, he'll be sharing that insight and perspective with New England fans, joining the broadcast team of Devin McCourty, Jason McCourty, and Scott Zolak for both of the team's locally produced preseason games.
"With the quarterback situation the Patriots have I thought it was a great opportunity for me because there's going to be a lot of eyes on Jacoby (Brissett) and Drake (Maye)," Hoyer told Patriots.com.
"I could lend my experience to the fans and really explain what they're going through."
This marks the first time New England has tapped into four alumni players to call the preseason games and offer discussion, insight, and analysis in the booth. It's also a big first for Hoyer, who after dipping his toes in football media, is now jumping right into the deep end.
The opportunity arose quite organically for the 38-year-old, who most recently played for the Las Vegas Raiders for the 2023 season after a third stint in New England. He hasn't turned in his retirement paperwork to the league, and will answer the phone should any teams call, but he's kept his options open in terms of what comes next.
Hoyer had been doing guest spots on Good Morning Football and with ESPN and NBC Sports Boston as producers saw him take to it like a natural.
After recording an episode of the Pats From the Past podcast at Gillette Stadium, Kraft Sports + Entertainment senior executive producer Matt Smith asked Hoyer if he might be interested in joining Zolak and the McCourty Twins if he hadn't signed with a new team by then.
Talking about it with the McCourtys at Tom Brady's Patriots Hall of Fame ceremony in June, Hoyer knew it would be great practice for a potential future in media.
"We all had a chance to talk about it and thought it would be a lot of fun," Hoyer said.
"Obviously, they have a head start in the media industry and are far ahead of me so I thought it would be great to link up with them and do it."
Hoyer and his wife have remained local to Foxborough, still owning a home in Massachusetts where their two children have friends and go to school.
"Boston became our city as adults, and then our kids were raised here and it's all they've ever known," Hoyer said. "They want to be here, it's where they grew up, and the thing I love about it is there's such great history, there's so much to do. You can go to the beach, the mountains, the city. You're only three hours from New York City. You have an airport that will take you anywhere in the world. For us, it almost came to a point where we were like, well where else would we live?"
Beyond logistical convenience, it helped that one of Hoyer's best friends, Jacoby Brissett, has been named the Patriots starting quarterback. The two were friends even before spending time together with the Indianapolis Colts, and spent time in Florida together during the offseason.
"He's become like a little brother to me and we always keep in touch," Hoyer said of Brissett. "When he told me he was coming here I was excited because I knew I'd be living here this year and I just hope for the best for him."
That relationship will surely serve to Hoyer's advantage with all eyes on New England's quarterback situation this preseason.
You have Brissett, a fantastic veteran presence for a team looking to rebuild its quarterback room, and Drake Maye, the highly-touted third-overall pick whom many hope is the future of the franchise.
Hoyer understands what it's like to be in both of those positions.
"For me venturing into this media profession, I think I offer a perspective of not only a former player, but a former quarterback who, over 15 years, has faced just about every possible scenario you could experience as a quarterback," Hoyer said.
"I know what it's like to be in a quarterback competition and then be named the starter, but you have a young guy looking over your shoulder. I can use my experience to give fans a perspective of what these guys go through, and when I break a play down, I can maybe give people a better understanding of what goes into playing the position and what those guys are thinking – especially during the preseason, which is very different than the regular season."
Additionally, he hopes to bring a nuanced and realistic take on what the team is actually trying to accomplish during preseason games.
With Zolak and the McCourtys calling the game, Hoyer will serve as the broadcast team's quarterback expert alongside Patriots senior editor Paul Perillo in the Bobs Discount Furniture Studios providing further in-game analysis.
WBZ sports director Steve Burton will report from the sideline, which is set to include interviews with Patriots players during the game for the first time in franchise history.
Hoyer is excited to take this next big step in media alongside a crew he knows well.
"I think doing this in a unique way with guys I'm really comfortable with and have a lot of shared experiences with will be fun not only for us, but I think the fans will enjoy it, too," Hoyer said.
"We've experienced a lot and we've played through a lot. We've lived through a lot of things that people really get a kick out of. There are so many stories that I could tell that the average Patriots fan would love, and hopefully, we bring some of that to the preseason games. Zo is obviously much older, and between us, Devin and Jason, people will get a kick out of all the stories we have to share."
You can tune in to watch the new broadcast team on WBZ TV 4 in Boston and the Patriots Preseason Network affiliates throughout New England beginning on Thursday, Aug. 8 as the Patriots host the Carolina Panthers, and again on Thursday, Aug. 15 against the Philadelphia Eagles.
