Longtime NFL quarterback Nathan Peterman is hanging up his cleats, but the 32-year-old will remain in the game in a different capacity. Peterman is working to become a certified NFL agent with Range Sports, which represented him as a player, according to Irving Mejia-Hilario of Sports Business Journal.
“I got to live through what I’m now getting tested on in the CBA,” Peterman told Mejia-Hilario. “Being up and down on a roster, being put on IR, negotiating contracts. I hope I can help a younger person that’s on a similar journey.”
Peterman, who divided his college career between Tennessee and Pittsburgh, became a pro when the Bills chose him in the fifth round of the 2017 draft. He spent two years in Buffalo, where he struggled over eight appearances and four starts.
Former Bills head coach Sean McDermott briefly benched Tyrod Taylor and turned to Peterman for his first career start in a Week 11 game against the Chargers in 2017. It was a short-lived promotion for Peterman, who threw five first-half interceptions in a 54-24 loss and lost the job at halftime. Taylor held the reins for the rest of the season and helped the Bills to a 9-7 finish, ending their 17-year playoff drought, but suffered a concussion late in their wild-card game in Jacksonville. Peterman came in and tossed an interception with 1:16 left to clinch a 10-3 win for the Jaguars.
During the 2018 offseason, Buffalo shook up its quarterback room when it traded Taylor to Cleveland and drafted Josh Allen seventh overall. With the goal of easing Allen into the league, McDermott named Peterman the Week 1 starter. However, he was once again unable to get through a full game. After Peterman went 5 for 18 for 24 yards and two interceptions, McDermott yanked him late in a 40-3 loss to the Ravens. Allen came on in relief and then took over as the Bills’ starter, a job he has not relinquished. Peterman’s last start as a Bill came when he filled in for an injured Allen in Week 9 against the Bears. He completed 31 of 49 attempts for 188 yards and three picks in a 41-9 loss. The Bills cut him eight days later.
After the Bills moved on from Peterman, he had stints with the Raiders, Bears, Saints and Falcons. His fifth and final start came with Chicago in Week 18 of the 2022 campaign. Peterman threw a touchdown and no interceptions in an 11-of-19, 104-yard performance, but the Bears fell 29-13 to the Vikings. The loss clinched the No. 1 pick for Chicago, which traded it to Carolina in a blockbuster that significantly altered the courses of both franchises. Peterman, meanwhile, never attempted another regular-season pass in the league, leaving him with a 53.1% completion rate, four TDs, 13 INTs and a 39.4 rating.
Peterman, most recently a member of Atlanta’s practice squad in 2024, worked out for the Jets, Lions and 49ers last year. None of those teams gave him a contract. Neither did the Broncos, who had Peterman in for a tryout just a few weeks ago. After they passed on signing him, Peterman will turn his attention to a new career in the game.
Good career move by Peterman. Brutal read on his career btw, but you know what they say, for those that can’t do, teach.
I hope he’s a better agent than he was a QB
I mean, it’s really hard to argue with those results, but Buffalo also did not coach Peterman up at all while he was with them. If I recall, they brought him up in that first game straight from the practice squad, as a late drafted rookie, with no first team reps at all. Frankly, it’s surprising that he completed any passes at all. Hard to ignore the effect that has on a career and on confidence.
Not saying that the rest of his career didn’t prove that Peterman was way out of his depth, mind you, but I do think that that initial approach really hurt whatever it was to become. The 2018 showings were almost inarguably worse, after all.
His agent was a great mentor, making him a fortune as one of the league’s least productive QBs.
Damn the greatest QB of all time calling it quits
Agent over the coaching route is interesting
If he can help other players last as long in the league relative to their performance as he did, he’ll be an incredible agent.
If he can help other players last in the league as long relative to their performance as he did, he’ll be an incredible agent.
Over his NFL career, Peterman accumulated $5,907,701 in total career earnings.
After all of that he isn’t becoming a coach? The word for years was the only reason he was still getting signed to practice squad deals was because he was a genius on the chalk board/tablet when it comes to football IQ.
I was thinking the same thing. When I saw he was retiring, I figured he was going the Sean Mannion route. Maybe he’ll do it for six or seven months & then somebody makes him an offer in the next coaching cycle.
Hoping his future clients don’t get intercepted too
And to think Shedeur had already made 4x the money. Which I guess J’s good since his brother Shilo owes about $12M to the plaintiff in a lawsuit.
Peterman has been paid about $3.7 million in his career. Sanders isn’t guaranteed that yet. And if Shilo were to actually have to pay that money and get it from a family member, it would presumably be from their much, much wealthier father.
He actually made closer to $6 million. His agent was a brilliant mentor
Its insane how much money Shedeur made in licensing/merchandise fees this past season. The NFL helps keep the global sweat shops going day and night. Hopefully the workers arent at gunpoint?
Nathan has first hand experience at how to survive in the league when the odds are stacked against you, so I think he will be a terrific player agent and advisor. Wishing him the best.
I had no idea he was even still active. But in any case, best of luck to him in his future endeavors.
Nooooooooooooooooooooooo! I always looked forward to seeing which team was desperate enough to bring him into camp. Should have started a pool.
Well I’d feel a lot less desperate bringing Nathan into camp than bringing Marcedes Lewis into camp 🙂
Not me. At least Marcedes HAD a career. The Peterman is still looking for one.
The greatest agency of all time. They somehow got Peterman paid until he was 32 while being one of the worst QBs to ever don a helmet