“A Dream I Never Gave Up On”: MSUM’s Jack Strand Lands with Atlanta Falcons

ATLANTA, Ga. (KVRR) — After rewriting the record books at Minnesota State Moorhead, Jack Strand is getting his shot at the next level.

The former Dragons quarterback is signing with the Atlanta Falcons as an undrafted free agent following the 2026 NFL Draft, bringing months of anticipation and preparation to a moment he’s envisioned for years.

“Once that call came in from my agent that we had a deal with the Falcons, it was… that’s just a weight off my shoulders,” Strand said. “A lot of excitement for sure. And for my family as well.”

Strand leaves Moorhead as arguably the greatest player in program history. He owns every major passing record in school history—both career and single-season—and etched his name across the NSIC record book with career marks in passing yards, completions, and touchdowns.

On a national scale, his production stacks up among the best in NCAA Division II history. Strand finished ninth all-time in career passing yards per game (313.4), 10th in total passing yards (13,161), and tied for fifth in career passing touchdowns (126).

His accolades match the numbers. Strand was a four-time All-NSIC selection and a two-time conference Offensive Player of the Year (2023, 2025). As a senior, he piled up five All-America honors alone, part of eight total in his career, while also being named the D2CCA Super Region 3 Offensive Player of the Year. He was a three-time Harlon Hill Trophy finalist, finishing fourth in the nation in 2025.

But for Strand, the path to the NFL was always about belief as much as performance.

“The thing about this whole journey has been being in the NFL is something that I always dreamed of and always thought that I could do,” he said. “And I knew that if I put enough stuff on film, if you’re good enough, they’ll find you. It wasn’t a dream that I ever gave up on.”

Off the field, Strand was just as accomplished. He earned multiple selections to the NSIC All-Academic Team of Excellence and CSC Academic All-District Team. A two-time CSC Academic All-American, he made history in 2025 as the first MSUM student-athlete named CSC Academic All-America Team Member of the Year. He was also a finalist for the prestigious William V. Campbell Trophy, recognizing the nation’s top scholar-athlete.

Strand now joins a small group of Dragons to reach the NFL ranks. Mark Reed (1983) and Ted Nemzek (1930) are the only MSUM alumni to appear in an NFL regular season game, while Strand becomes the program’s first NFL signee since Damon Gibson in 2017.

The next chapter begins soon. Falcons offseason OTAs start May 18, followed by mandatory minicamp June 16–18—his first opportunity to prove he belongs at the professional level.