Robert Joshua Dobbs (born January 26, 1995), nicknamed "the Passtronaut", is an American professional football quarterback for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Tennessee Volunteers and was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the fourth round of the 2017 NFL draft. Dobbs has been a member of nine NFL teams during his career, including as the starter for the Tennessee Titans, Arizona Cardinals, Minnesota Vikings, and San Francisco 49ers. He has also played for the Jacksonville Jaguars and New England Patriots.
Early life Dobbs was born and raised in Alpharetta, Georgia, the son of Stephanie and Robert Dobbs. His mother retired from United Parcel Service (UPS) as a region manager in corporate human resources, and his father retired as a senior vice president for Wells Fargo. Dobbs has alopecia areata, an autoimmune disease causing hair loss, which began when he was transitioning from elementary to junior high school.
Dobbs started playing football at age five. He attended Wesleyan School and then Alpharetta High School. As a senior with the Alpharetta Raiders football team, Dobbs threw for 3,625 yards with 29 touchdowns and was awarded the Franklin D. Watkins Memorial Trophy as the top African-American high school athlete in the nation by the National Alliance of African American Athletes. He was rated a three-star recruit by Rivals.com and a four-star by Scout.com. Dobbs initially committed to Arizona State University to play college football, but in February 2013, he changed his commitment to the University of Tennessee.
College career 2013 season As a true freshman at the University of Tennessee in 2013, Dobbs played in five games with four starts after starter Justin Worley suffered an injury in a loss against the #1 Alabama Crimson Tide at Bryant–Denny Stadium. Dobbs came into the game and completed 5 of 12 passes for 75 yards. He made his first career start against the #10 Missouri Tigers at Faurot Field. Dobbs completed 26-of-42 passes for 240 yards in the 31–3 loss, which was the most passing yards in a freshman debut since 2004 (Erik Ainge (118) and Brent Schaefer (123) against the UNLV Rebels). After a 55–23 loss to the #7 Auburn Tigers and a 14–10 loss to the Vanderbilt Commodores, Dobbs put together a solid performance against the Kentucky Wildcats at Commonwealth Stadium. In the 27–14 victory, Dobbs threw his first two career touchdown passes and had a 40-yard rushing touchdown. Overall, he completed 72-of-121 passes for 695 yards, two touchdowns, and six interceptions while also rushing for 189 yards and a touchdown in his true freshman season.
2014 season Dobbs competed with Worley (a senior) and Nathan Peterman (a sophomore), to be Tennessee's starter for the 2014 season. Worley was announced the starter, but Dobbs took over as the starter in November after Worley was injured in a 34–3 loss to the #3 Ole Miss Rebels at Vaught–Hemingway Stadium. Although Dobbs was not pushed into action immediately after the injury, in the following week against #4 Alabama Crimson Tide, Peterman was named the starter, but he was relieved quickly by Dobbs. Dobbs performed well in the 34–20 defeat by recording 192 passing yards and two rushing touchdowns against the Crimson Tide. Against South Carolina, he had a breakout performance against the Gamecocks at Williams–Brice Stadium. In the 45–42 comeback overtime victory, Dobbs had 301 passing yards and two touchdowns to go along with 166 rushing yards and three touchdowns. Against the Kentucky Wildcats at Neyland Stadium, he had 297 passing yards and three passing touchdowns to go along with 48 rushing yards and a touchdown in the 50–16 victory. Dobbs and team helped Tennessee reach their first bowl game since the 2010 season. He was named the 2015 TaxSlayer Bowl MVP in Tennessee's 45–28 victory over Iowa. In the game, Dobbs passed for 129 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 76 yards and two touchdowns.
As a sophomore, Dobbs threw for 1,206 yards, nine touchdowns, and six interceptions while also rushing for 469 yards and eight touchdowns in just six games. He received two Offensive Player of the Week honors from the Southeastern Conference (SEC), both of which came from his combined passing and rushing performances for over 400 yards in each game.
2015 season Dobbs entered the 2015 season as Tennessee's starting quarterback. He started and appeared in all 12 regular season games and the bowl game. To open Tennessee's season on September 5, Dobbs recorded 205 passing yards, two passing touchdowns, 89 rushing yards, and a rushing touchdown against the Bowling Green Falcons in a 59–30 victory at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee. In a double overtime 31–24 loss to the #19 Oklahoma Sooners in the Tennessee 2015 home opener, he had 125 passing yards, a passing touchdown, 12 rushing yards, and a rushing touchdown. In a narrow 28–27 loss to SEC East rival Florida at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Dobbs had a season-high 136 rushing yards and had a 58-yard receiving touchdown thrown by teammate wide receiver Jauan Jennings on a trick play. Dobbs's touchdown reception against Florida was the first reception by a Tennessee quarterback since Peyton Manning caught a 10-yard pass from running back Jamal Lewis in 1997 against Arkansas. Against the rival #19 Georgia Bulldogs, Dobbs had a season-high 312 yards passing and three touchdowns to go along with 118 rushing yards and two touchdowns. His efforts in the game led Tennessee to their first win over the Bulldogs since 2009. Against the #8 Alabama Crimson Tide in their annual rivalry game, Dobbs threw for 171 yards and a touchdown in the 19–14 loss at Bryant–Denny Stadium. Against rival South Carolina, he had 255 passing yards and two touchdowns in the 27–24 home victory. Dobbs led Tennessee to a 9–4 record, which was the most wins for the Tennessee program since 2007. The 2015 season culminated with a 45–6 victory over the #12 Northwestern Wildcats in the 2016 Outback Bowl. In the bowl game, Dobbs had two rushing touchdowns.
2016 season Dobbs entered the 2016 season as Tennessee's starting quarterback in his final season of collegiate eligibility. He started and appeared in all 12 regular season games and the bowl game. Dobbs started the season with a solid performance in a home game against Appalachian State. In the 20–13 overtime victory, he had 192 yards passing but fumbled on the goal line; the ball was recovered by teammate and running back Jalen Hurd to give Tennessee the go-ahead score. In the 2016 Pilot Flying J Battle at Bristol, Dobbs threw three passing touchdowns to go along with two rushing touchdowns. In a 38–28 comeback victory over the #19 Florida Gators, Dobbs had 319 yards passing, four passing touchdowns, 80 rushing yards, and a rushing touchdown to lead the Volunteers to their first win over the Gators since 2004. Against #25 Georgia, Dobbs had 230 yards passing, three passing touchdowns, and a rushing touchdown to win 34–31. Dobbs's last touchdown was a Hail Mary throw to wide receiver Jauan Jennings as time expired. The winning play is referenced by many as the "Dobbs-Nail Boot". With the victory, Tennessee was 5–0 with Dobbs as quarterback and ranked as high as top 10 in some polls. In a double overtime 45–38 loss to the #8 Texas A&M Aggies at Kyle Field, Dobbs had a season-high 398 passing yards and one passing touchdown. He also caught a receiving touchdown from Jauan Jennings, his second career receiving touchdown. Dobbs continued solid performances over the rest of the season: he had five total touchdowns, 223 passing yards, and 190 rushing yards in a 63–37 victory over Missouri and 340 passing yards in a 45–34 loss against Vanderbilt at Vanderbilt Stadium. Despite his play, Tennessee faded from their 5–0 start to finish 8–4.
In the final game of his Tennessee career, Dobbs led the Volunteers past the #24 Nebraska Cornhuskers by a score of 38–28 in the 2016 Music City Bowl at Nissan Stadium in Nashville. He had 291 passing yards, one passing touchdown, 11 rushes for 118 yards, and three rushing touchdowns. Dobbs was named the MVP of the game.
Dobbs led Tennessee to a second consecutive 9–4 record. The Touchdown Club of Columbus honored him with the President's Award, which honors athletes from smaller programs whose dedication and perseverance—often in the face of adversity—deserve greater recognition. Tennessee's 18 wins with Dobbs at the helm were the most for the school over a two-year span since 2006–2007.
Dobbs majored in aerospace engineering during his time at the University of Tennessee. The university presented him with the 2017 Torchbearer Award, the highest honor for an undergraduate student, which recognizes accomplishments in the community and academics. Dobbs was heralded as possessing a perfect 4.0 grade point average and being named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll.
Dobbs was inducted into Omicron Delta Kappa at Tennessee in 2016.
Professional career Pre-draft Dobbs received an invitation to the Senior Bowl and was named the starting quarterback for the South. He finished the game completing 12-of-15 pass attempts for 102 passing yards and an interception, as the South narrowly defeated the North 16–15. Most NFL draft experts and analysts projected Dobbs to be a fourth to fifth-round pick. NFL analyst Mike Mayock projected him to be selected in the second round and NFL.com projected Dobbs to be drafted in the third round. After attending the NFL Scouting Combine, he was ranked the seventh best quarterback in the draft by ESPN, the ninth best quarterback by Sports Illustrated, and NFLDraftScout.com ranked him the eighth best quarterback in the draft. Dobbs attended Tennessee's Pro Day and scripted his own set of plays; 19 other teammates also participated in Tennessee's Pro Day. He held workouts for six teams: the Kansas City Chiefs, Tennessee Titans, Carolina Panthers, San Diego Chargers, Pittsburgh Steelers, and New Orleans Saints.
Pittsburgh Steelers (first stint) The Steelers selected Dobbs in the fourth round (135th overall) of the 2017 NFL draft. He was the seventh quarterback selected, and the Steelers also drafted his former Tennessee and Senior Bowl teammate, cornerback Cameron Sutton. Dobbs replaced Zach Mettenberger following the draft.
On May 22, 2017, the Steelers signed Dobbs to a four-year, $2.95 million contract with a signing bonus of $554,295. He was named the starter for the preseason opener against the New York Giants. After two starts and four appearances during the preseason, Dobbs spent his entire rookie season behind incumbent starter Ben Roethlisberger and long-term backup Landry Jones.
Dobbs made his NFL debut in the 2018 season against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 5, taking a knee to close out the 41–17 victory. On November 4, 2018, in a 23–16 victory over the Baltimore Ravens, Dobbs completed a 22-yard pass to JuJu Smith-Schuster, after stepping in for Ben Roethlisberger, who got injured on the previous play. In Week 14 against the Oakland Raiders, Dobbs once again stepped in for Roethlisberger, who suffered a rib injury. He finished 4-of-9 for 24 yards and an interception during the 24–21 road loss.
Dobbs finished the 2018 season with 43 passing yards and an interception in five games and no starts.
Jacksonville Jaguars On September 9, 2019, Dobbs was traded to the Jacksonville Jaguars for a fifth-round pick in the 2020 NFL draft. Dobbs was traded after Mason Rudolph won the backup job for the Steelers, and Jaguars quarterback Nick Foles sustained a broken clavicle during the season opener and was placed on injured reserve.
While in Jacksonville, Dobbs participated in an internship at NASA's Kennedy Space Center.
On September 5, 2020, Dobbs was waived by the Jaguars.
Pittsburgh Steelers (second stint) On September 6, 2020, Dobbs was claimed off waivers by the Steelers. He only appeared in one game during the 2020 season.