Graham Mertz

Graham Mertz (born December 6, 2000) is an American professional football quarterback for the Houston Texans of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Wisconsin Badgers and Florida Gators. Mertz was selected by the Texans in the sixth round of the 2025 NFL draft.

Early life Mertz's first two years of high school were spent at Bishop Miege High School in Roeland Park, Kansas. While there, he played high school football and backed up all-state quarterback Carter Putz. He was a finalist for the Elite 11 quarterback competition in 2018, and was named Gatorade Kansas Football Player of the Year. Graham was invited to the All-American Bowl after his senior season, where he set a bowl record with five touchdown passes and was named game MVP.

Mertz was rated as a four-star recruit by ESPN, 247Sports.com, and Rivals.com. ESPN rated him as the best pocket passer in the class of 2019 and 21st highest rated recruit overall.

College career Wisconsin 2019 Three-year Wisconsin starting quarterback Alex Hornibrook announced he would be transferring to Florida State for the 2019 season, leaving a competition between Mertz and junior Jack Coan. ESPN described Mertz as Wisconsin's "most hyped QB since Russell Wilson." Mertz ultimately lost the starting job to Coan, and redshirted his true freshman season after appearing in two games.

2020 With Coan injured in practice before the 2020 season, Mertz began the season as the starting quarterback, becoming the first freshman quarterback to start a season-opening game for the Badgers since 1978. He was named Big Ten Co-Offensive Player of the Week and Freshman of the Week for the performance.

The day after the Illinois game, Mertz tested positive for COVID-19, in what would prove to be a team-wide outbreak that forced the cancellation of their next two games against Nebraska and Purdue. Mertz recovered in time for the team's next game against Michigan, which the Badgers won 49–11, despite a more subdued performance from Mertz, who threw for 127 yards and two touchdowns in the game. Wisconsin lost its next three games, against Northwestern, Indiana, and Iowa, with Mertz throwing four interceptions to just one passing touchdown during that stretch. In the final game of the regular season, against rival Minnesota, played on Big Ten Championship Saturday, Mertz left the game in the third quarter with an ankle injury. The Badgers eventually won in overtime, 20–17.

The Badgers were invited to play against Wake Forest in the Duke's Mayo Bowl. Mertz went 11-for-17, with 130 passing yards and one touchdown in the 42–28 win. After the game, Mertz dropped the trophy in the locker room celebration, shattering the football made of glass on the top of the trophy.

2021 Mertz served as the starting quarterback in all 13 games for Wisconsin during his redshirt sophomore season in 2021, leading the Badgers to a 9–4 record and a victory in the Las Vegas Bowl. He finished the season with 1,958 passing yards, 10 passing touchdowns, and 11 interceptions.

2022 Mertz served as the starting quarterback for Wisconsin once again in his redshirt junior season in 2022, leading the Badgers to a 6–6 regular season record. In a 42–7 win against Northwestern on October 8, he set a career high with 299 passing yards and five touchdown passes. He finished the season with 2,136 passing yards, 19 passing touchdowns, and 10 interceptions.

On December 4, 2022, prior to Wisconsin's bowl game, Mertz announced he was entering the transfer portal.

Florida

2023 Mertz joined the Florida Gators in the spring of 2023. Mertz served as the starting quarterback for Florida in 2023, leading the Gators to a 5–6 record. He finished the season with 2,903 passing yards, 20 passing touchdowns, and three interceptions.

2024 Mertz returned as the starting quarterback for Florida in 2024. He suffered a season-ending ACL tear against Tennessee. As 2024 was Mertz's final collegiate season, the injury also ended his college career. He finished his Gators tenure as the school's career leader in completion percentage.

Statistics Season Team Games Passing Rushing GP GS Record Cmp Att Pct Yds Avg TD Int Rtg Att Yds Avg TD 2019 Wisconsin 2 0 0–0 9 10 90.0 73 7.3 0 0 151.3 2 6 3.0 0 2020 Wisconsin 7 7 4–3 118 193 61.1 1,238 6.4 9 5 125.2 36 38 1.1 2 2021 Wisconsin 13 13 9–4 169 284 59.5 1,958 6.9 10 11 121.3 37 -25 -0.7 4 2022 Wisconsin 12 12 6–6 164 286 57.3 2,136 7.5 19 10 135.0 50 -40 -0.8 2 2023 Florida 11 11 5–6 261 358 72.9 2,903 8.1 20 3 157.8 62 -75 -1.2 4 2024 Florida 5 5 2–3 72 94 76.6 791 8.4 6 2 164.1 18 56 3.1 1 Career 50 48 26–22 793 1,225 64.7 9,099 7.4 64 31 139.3 205 -40 -0.2 13

College accolades Awards and honors Big Ten Conference Big Ten Co-Offensive Player of the Week (2020) Big Ten Freshman of the Week (2020) Graham Mertz at Houston Texans training camp in July 2026Mertz was drafted by the Houston Texans in the sixth round, with the 197th overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft.

Mertz made the Texans roster as a rookie, starting the 2025 season as the third-string quarterback behind C. J. Stroud and Davis Mills.

After suffering a torn ACL during the 2026 preseason, Mertz was placed on season-ending injured reserve on August 15.

Personal life Graham's father, Ron Mertz, played football as an offensive lineman at Minnesota from 1989 to 1992. Graham has two sisters that played college basketball: Lauren, at Kansas State, and Mya, at Drake.