NFL quarterback who was drafted 5th overall by the New York Jets in 2009 after playing college football at USC. He helped lead the Jets to the AFC Championship game in 2009 and 2010.
In his only full season as a starter in college, he led USC to a 12-1 record and a victory in the 2009 Rose Bowl. He then decided to forego his senior season to declare for the draft.
After going 19-12 with two AFC Championship appearances in his first two seasons with the Jets, he struggled in his following two seasons and was released in 2014. He then spent two years with the Philadelphia Eagles before signing with the Denver Broncos.
He grew up in Long Beach, California, with his parents, Nick and Olga, and his two brothers, Nick Jr. and Brandon, both of whom played college football.
He and Ben Roethlisberger became the first two quarterbacks to go to the conference championship games during their first two years in the NFL.
