Josh Dobbs, the 31-year-old quarterback, currently a free agent after the New England Patriots released him on March 23, posted a vlog this week showing what a typical offseason day looks like for him: piloting flights across the country as a licensed pilot.
Dobbs earned the nickname “The Passtronaut” in October 2023 during a memorable stretch with the Minnesota Vikings, a handle that grew directly out of his background as a certified aerospace engineer.
He graduated from the University of Tennessee with a 4.0 GPA in the field and was recognized by the school with its 2017 Torchbearer Award, the highest honor given to any undergraduate student. The vlog was flagged by NFL insider Dov Kleiman on X on March 29.
𝗧𝗥𝗘𝗡𝗗𝗜𝗡𝗚: Standout NFL QB Josh Dobbs posted a vlog of what his day looks like during the off-season as a pilot who flies all over the country.
Dobbs’ nickname is “The Passtronaut” because of his background in aerospace engineering.
He had a 4.0 GPA at the University of… pic.twitter.com/2MTzQxfddm
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) March 29, 2026
Two NFLPA-backed externships brought him to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, where he worked on daily engineering tasks alongside aerospace scientists. One of those stints culminated with him on-site during a live SpaceX launch.
Pittsburgh Steelers, Ben Roethlisberger, Josh Dobbs, Aaron Rodgers
Feb 8, 2026; Santa Clara, CA, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Joshua Dobbs (11) after the game against the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl LX at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images
He has spoken at length about the overlap between his two fields.
“I feel like being a quarterback and being an engineer are very similar,” Dobbs said. “If defenses are giving me problems, or you’re assessing data from film, you have to assess those problems and solve them quickly.”
Still Available, Dobbs Searches for His 10th NFL Team This Offseason
The Patriots cut Dobbs on March 23 after re-signing Tommy DeVito to a two-year, $7.4 million deal. New England chose DeVito as the primary backup behind Drake Maye.
Dobbs appeared in four regular-season games with New England in 2025, completing seven of 10 pass attempts for 65 yards.
His most well-known NFL moment came in November 2023 when he led the Vikings to a 31-28 comeback victory over the Atlanta Falcons, barely five days after joining the team and without taking a single practice repetition with the group.