Driskel accepted an athletic scholarship to attend the University of Florida, where he played for coach Will Muschamp's Florida Gators football team. As a freshman, Driskel appeared in five games, completing 16 of 34 passes for 148 yards with two interceptions. He became the team's starter as a sophomore in 2012. He led them to an 11–2 record and a berth in the 2013 Sugar Bowl, in which Florida lost to the Louisville Cardinals.[7]
After starting three games in 2013, Driskel broke his right fibula in a game against Tennessee and missed the remainder of the season.[8] He returned from the injury in 2014 and kept his starting job to start the season but was later benched in favor of Treon Harris.[9][10]
Despite not playing baseball since high school, Driskel was selected by the Boston Red Sox with the 863rd pick of the 2013 Major League Baseball Draft. Driskel signed a contract,[14] but he had no plans to stop playing football.[15]
Driskel was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the sixth round of the 2016 NFL draft with the 207th overall pick.[19] The 49ers previously traded tight end Vernon Davis to the Denver Broncos in exchange for the pick used to select Driskel. On May 5, 2016, the 49ers signed him to a four-year, $2.45 million contract with a signing bonus of $112,539.[20] Driskel began training camp as the No. 4 quarterback on the depth chart.[21] After a season-ending injury to Thad Lewis, Driskel competed with Christian Ponder for the third-string quarterback position. On September 3, 2016, he was waived by the 49ers.[22]
Cincinnati Bengals
Driskel was claimed off waivers by the Cincinnati Bengals on September 4, 2016.[23] He began the season as the Bengals' third quarterback on their depth chart behind veterans Andy Dalton and A. J. McCarron.
Driskel made his regular-season NFL debut on October 21, 2018, in relief of Andy Dalton in the fourth quarter in the final minutes of a 45–10 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, completing all four of his pass attempts for 39 yards.[25] In Week 12, against the Cleveland Browns, Dalton was injured and out for the season with a thumb injury.[26] Driskel came into the game in relief and threw his first professional touchdown to Tyler Boyd. He added a late rushing touchdown in the 35–20 loss.[27] He started the last five games of the season for the Bengals. He went 1–4 and passed for 764 yards, five touchdowns, and two interceptions in the five starts.[28]
Driskel was placed on injured reserve on August 31, 2019.[29] He was waived from injured reserve with an injury settlement on September 11.[30]
On September 17, 2019, Driskel was signed by the Detroit Lions.[31] On November 10, 2019, Driskel made his first start for the Lions against the Chicago Bears after Matthew Stafford was inactive due to injury.[32] He finished the Week 10 contest with 269 passing yards, one touchdown, and one interception as the Lions lost 20–13.[33] In Week 11 against the Dallas Cowboys, Driskel threw for 209 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 51 yards and a touchdown in the 35–27 loss.[34] After suffering a hamstring injury during a loss to the Washington Redskins, Driskel was placed on injured reserve on November 30, 2019.[35]
Denver Broncos
On March 27, 2020, Driskel signed a two-year contract with the Denver Broncos.[36] On September 20, 2020, Driskel came in for injured starting quarterback Drew Lock in a Week 2 matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers. He passed for 256 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception in relief in the 26–21 loss.[37] Driskel made his first start as a Bronco in Week 3 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. During the game, Driskel threw for 176 yards, 1 touchdown, and 1 interception before being benched in the fourth quarter of the 28–10 loss.[38] On November 26, 2020, Driskel was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list after testing positive for the virus.[39] He and the other three quarterbacks on the Broncos roster were fined by the team for violating COVID-19 protocols.[40] Driskel was activated from the COVID-19 list on December 16, 2020.[41] On May 3, 2021, Driskel was released by the Broncos.[42]
Houston Texans
On May 20, 2021, Driskel signed a one-year contract with the Houston Texans.[43] He was released on August 31, 2021.[44] He was signed to the practice squad the following day.[45] He was promoted to the active roster on October 16, 2021.[46] On November 18, Driskel converted from quarterback to tight end, playing the position for the first time in his career. He was placed on injured reserve on December 22.[47]
On March 18, 2022, Driskel re-signed with the Texans.[48] He was released on August 30, 2022, and signed back to the practice squad the next day.[49][50] He was promoted to the active roster on December 14.[51]
Arizona Cardinals
On April 17, 2023, Driskel signed a one-year contract with the Arizona Cardinals.[52] He was released on August 29, 2023, and re-signed to the practice squad the next day.[53][54] He was released again on October 20 and re-signed to the practice squad on October 31.[55] He was elevated to the active roster on November 4, 2023 to backup Clayton Tune against the Cleveland Browns.[55][56] Driskel then reverted back to the practice squad after the game.[56]
Cleveland Browns
On December 29, 2023, Driskel was signed by the Cleveland Browns off the Cardinals practice squad.[57]
On January 3, 2024, the Browns announced Driskel would be the starting quarterback in their 2023-24 regular season finale, a week 18 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals. The Browns clinched a playoff berth the week prior, so they decided to rest some of their key starters, including quarterback Joe Flacco, for the regular season finale to avoid potential injury.[58][59]
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