Joe Fagnano is on an NFL roster.
That became official Sunday evening, when multiple outlets reported the former UConn quarterback made the Baltimore Ravens’ initial 53-man roster on roster cuts day. The Ravens signed Fagnano after the 2026 NFL Draft in April on a three-year, $3.1 million deal, and now he has survived the first big NFL test.
The contract came without a signing bonus or any guaranteed money, according to Spotrac. Even so, Fagnano kept pushing, and his preseason work gave Baltimore a reason to keep him around.
His path to this point was a long one. Fagnano spent seven years in college between Maine and UConn because of injuries and the extra-COVID season granted by the NCAA. He kept at it anyway, and the preseason gave him a stage to show it.
In three preseason games, Fagnano completed 56 of 75 passes for 509 yards and four total touchdowns. On third down, he was especially sharp, going 13-of-17 for 129 yards and two touchdowns.
That 76.5% completion rate on third down was the best among AFC quarterbacks. Only Joe Milton of the Dallas Cowboys, a sixth-round pick in 2024, topped him leaguewide, completing 80% of his passes.
Fagnano got one final chance to make his case in Baltimore’s 41-3 preseason win over the Washington Commanders, and afterward he talked about what the opportunity meant to him.
“My goal coming in was just to make the most of my opportunities,” Fagnano said after the game. “What I can control is what I want to control.
The stuff that is out of my hands is out of my hands. I think I have done a nice job to put myself in a good position.
I can put my head on the pillow tonight and sleep well knowing that I gave all I had.”
Ravens first-year head coach Jesse Minter made clear he noticed what Fagnano was putting on tape.
“To his credit, he's put it on tape and he's put it out there,” Minter said Friday night. “He's been really consistent. He's played a certain way almost all three games, and so that's definitely something we'll have to take a look at.”
Fagnano’s exact role in Baltimore still isn’t set. Lamar Jackson remains the starter, and Tyler Huntley is in place as a veteran backup, so the quarterback room is crowded. But Fagnano has already done the hard part: he made the team.
For Williamsport-area fans looking for a trip to M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, the drive is just a little over three hours.
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