Trey Lance facts for kids

Trey Aubrey Lance (born May 9, 2000) is an American professional football quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the North Dakota State Bison. As a freshman, he won the Walter Payton Award and Jerry Rice Award. He also helped his team win the 2020 NCAA Division I Football Championship Game. The San Francisco 49ers picked Lance third overall in the 2021 NFL draft. After two seasons with limited play and injuries, he was traded to the Cowboys.

Early Life and High School Football

Trey Lance was born on May 9, 2000, in Marshall, Minnesota. His father, Carlton, was a football player too. Carlton played as a cornerback in other leagues. He was Trey's main coach when Trey was young.

Trey started playing running back in youth football. He became a quarterback in middle school. At Marshall High School, he was seen as a top quarterback. He first wanted to play for the University of Minnesota. But they and other big schools thought he would be a wide receiver or defensive back. In December 2017, Trey decided to play for North Dakota State.

College Football Career

Trey Lance started his college career at North Dakota State in 2018. He was "redshirted" for the 2018 season. This means he could practice with the team but played in only two games. This helped him gain experience without losing a year of eligibility. In those two games, he scored two rushing touchdowns.

Becoming a Starter and Winning Awards

In 2019, Trey became the starting quarterback. He led the Bison to the 2020 NCAA Division I Football Championship Game. They won 28–20, and Trey was named the MVP of the game. That season, he completed 192 of 287 passes for 2,786 yards. He threw 28 touchdowns and zero interceptions. This set an NCAA record for most passes without an interception. He also ran for 1,100 yards and 14 touchdowns.

For his amazing performance, Trey won two big awards. He received the Walter Payton Award as the best offensive player in the FCS. He also won the Jerry Rice Award as the best freshman player.

Shortened Final College Season

Trey was ready to start again in 2020. However, the season was delayed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. He only played in one game that season. It was against Central Arkansas in October 2020. In that game, Trey threw two touchdowns and ran for two more. He also threw his only interception in college. After this game, Trey decided to leave college early. He wanted to get ready for the 2021 NFL draft.

College Statistics Overview

Here's a look at Trey Lance's college football stats:

Professional Football Career

Time with the San Francisco 49ers

2021 Season: Rookie Year

Before the 2021 NFL draft, many experts thought Trey Lance would be picked third. The San Francisco 49ers traded up to get that pick. They chose Lance, making him their first first-round quarterback since 2005. He was also the second-highest drafted player from the FCS. Lance signed a four-year contract worth $34.1 million.

Lance started the 2021 season as the backup quarterback. He played his first NFL game in Week 1 against the Detroit Lions. He threw a five-yard touchdown pass in that game. Two weeks later, he scored a rushing touchdown against the Green Bay Packers.

In Week 4, Lance got more playing time when the starting quarterback was hurt. He threw for 157 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran for 41 yards. The next week, he started his first NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals. He threw for 192 yards and ran for 89 yards. After this game, he hurt his knee and missed some time.

Lance returned as the backup. He made his second start in Week 17 against the Houston Texans. He threw for 249 yards and two touchdowns. The 49ers won 23–7, giving Lance his first NFL win. He later said he played the season with a finger injury.

2022 Season: Injury Setback

Lance was named the starting quarterback for the 2022 season. However, he played in only two games. In Week 2, he suffered a season-ending ankle injury against the Seattle Seahawks. He had surgery on his ankle to fix the problem.

2023 Season: Backup Role

Lance entered the 2023 training camp with an uncertain future. Another young quarterback, Brock Purdy, had played very well. Lance was named the third-string backup quarterback. This led to talks about him being traded. He played in two preseason games, throwing for 285 yards and two touchdowns.

Joining the Dallas Cowboys

On August 26, 2023, Trey Lance was traded to the Dallas Cowboys. The Cowboys gave up a 2024 fourth-round draft pick for him. He became the third-string quarterback for the 2023 season. He did not play in any regular season games.

On May 1, 2024, the Cowboys decided not to extend Lance's contract. This means he will become a free agent after the 2024 season. During the 2024 preseason, Lance played a lot. In one game against the Los Angeles Chargers, he threw for 323 yards and a touchdown.

NFL Career Statistics Overview

Here are Trey Lance's NFL career statistics:

Personal Life

Trey Lance is an Evangelical Christian. In high school, he was a leader in his local Fellowship of Christian Athletes group. His younger brother, Bryce, also plays football. Bryce is a wide receiver at North Dakota State.

See also

In Spanish: Trey Lance para niños