Seven years after he outperformed a new player in the Buffalo Bills' starting quarterback competition, Josh Allen Nathan Peterman lands a new team. Nathan Peterman has been signed by the New Orleans Saints, who announced this on March 19. Peterman, 29, recently played for the Chicago Bears and made appearances in five games with one start.
The The New Orleans Saints revealed that they signed Peterman to a one-year contract. He will now have the opportunity to reunite with quarterback Derek Carr and compete for a backup position.
Nathan Peterman Excited for New Opportunity
The experienced quarterback is coming off a challenging year in Chicago, where he was
let go twice within three weeks due to the team juggling backup quarterbacks. Peterman expressed his excitement for the chance in New Orleans and reached out to Carr, a former teammate. “I’m extremely thrilled to be back with him,” Peterman said, via
Peterman will also have the opportunity to reunite with Andrew Janocko, the quarterbacks coach in New Orleans who also worked with Peterman in Chicago. NOLA.com.
According to NOLA.com, Peterman could compete for the No. 2 position behind Carr following veteran Jameis Winson's move to the Cleveland Browns. Second-year quarterback Jake Haener is also expected to vie for the backup role, although the fourth-round pick did not play in 2023.
Peterman mentioned that he’s prepared to support Carr if he earns the position.
“We had a great relationship and continue to have that,” Peterman said. “It’s been fun. In the room, I’ve always tried to help him as much as possible (and) on gameday, as well. Anyway I can. You always need someone to just have fun and compete with. Derek’s a great competition, and so, (we’re) always trying to push each other.”
Challenging Time in Buffalo
Peterman had a controversial time in Buffalo, receiving his first starting job during his rookie season in 2017 after head coach Sean McDermott benched Tyrod Taylor against the then-San Diego Chargers. Peterman only played the first half, throwing five interceptions before halftime and being replaced by Taylor.
The rookie quarterback did manage to make a big play later that season, throwing a touchdown in a heavy snowstorm against the Indianapolis Colts. However, he later suffered a head injury and did not complete the game. Despite this, Peterman's score helped the Bills secure a victory and remain in the playoff race. The team earned a playoff spot that year, ending a drought of 17 years without postseason appearances.
Peterman returned to Buffalo the following season, initially winning the starting job over then-newcomer Allen during training camp. However, his time as a starter did not last long in the second season, as coaches substituted Peterman early in Week 1 after the Bills fell behind 40-0 to the Baltimore Ravens. Peterman was released later that season.
Despite the difficult start to his career, Peterman continued to find opportunities in the NFL. He played for the Las Vegas Raiders from 2020-2021, appearing in two games during that period.
Ex-Buffalo Bills quarterback Nathan Peterman has joined the New Orleans Saints to have the opportunity to vie for a backup position.
