Who is “passtronaut” Joshua Dobbs, Vikings’ star earns NASA nod for clutch performance against Falcons?

The Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins’ contract is set to end soon, and many thought they would unload him before the end of the season. Though the team didn’t take any initiative for the signal-caller, he himself had to close down the season due to a season-ending injury he sustained in week 8.

The Vikings won the match against the Green Bay Packers, but the victory came with a blow as well. After losing their starter for the rest of the campaign, the team decided to rely on Joshua Dobbs, who has recently earned a nod from NASA.

Who is Joshua Dobbs?

Dobbs, an NFL quarterback, started his NFL journey with the Pittsburgh Steelers and then got enrolled with the Tennessee Titans. The Arizona Cardinals acquired him on Aug. 24 as their starting quarterback Kyler Murray started this season on the physically unable-to-perform list. The team handed the responsibility to Dobbs, although he couldn’t do the job perfectly.

The signal-caller went 167-of-266 passing for 1,569 yards and scored eight touchdowns for five interceptions while having an 81.2 passer rating. The Vikings took the chance of the Oct. 31 deadline to acquire him following Cousins’ setback.

The Cardinals traded Joshua along with a 7th-round pick to Minnesota in exchange for a 6th-round pick. There were also conditions attached to the deal that would turn the 7th-round pick that the Arizona-based franchise sent to the Vikings into a sixth-round pick, per Adam Schefter of ESPN.

NASA honors Dobbs for stellar performance as Vikings’ QB

Dobbs had been a starting QB in eight games for the Cardinals and earned a poor 1-7 record before losing his position to Clayton Tune. However, he didn’t showcase a lackluster performance with the Vikings and led them to a 31-28 win against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday.

With this three-point win, the Vikings improved to 5-4 after a 0-3 start. Following his incredible performance, NASA also decided to give a shout-out to the QB on Monday by posting a photo of him. The image shows the signal-caller wearing an astronaut suit.

“Congratulations @josh_dobbs1 on yesterday’s big win! Looks like you rock(et) on and off the field. We heard you’ve even got a new nickname, the “Passtronaut.” If the suit fits, wear it,” they wrote via Marca.

Many fans may find themselves pondering the peculiar association between the Minnesota Vikings’ recent sensation and the renowned NASA institution. The true genesis of this connection stems from his academic journey, having successfully graduated from the hallowed halls of the University of Tennessee with a degree in aerospace engineering back in 2017. It was thus that NASA seized the opportunity to intertwine his academic prowess with his formidable skills as a quarterback.

What’s your take on Dobbs’ recent performance? Tell us in the comments.