Connor Halliday


Connor Halliday is a former American football quarterback. He was signed by the Washington Redskins as an undrafted free agent in 2015. He played college football at Washington State. Halliday is tied for first on the NCAA Division I FBS single-game passing yardage record with 734 yards, which he set in a losing effort versus Cal in 2014.

Early years

Halliday attended Joel E. Ferris High School in Spokane, Washington. As a senior, he threw for 4,198 yards and 43 touchdowns and was the Greater Spokane League Offensive Most Valuable Player.

College career

Halliday committed to Washington State University and played for the Washington State Cougars football team from 2011 through 2014, redshirting in 2010.

2011

As a redshirt freshman in 2011, Halliday appeared in four games and made one start. In the game against Arizona State he passed for a Pac-12 and Washington State freshman record, 494 yards with four touchdowns.

2012

As a redshirt sophomore in 2012, he appeared in nine games with five starts. He finished the year completing 152 of 291 passes for 1,878 yards, 15 touchdowns and 13 interceptions.

2013

As a junior in 2013, he started all 13 games. He set or tied numerous Washington State, Pac-12 and NCAA records during the season. In the game against Oregon, he broke Drew Brees' record for pass attempts in a game with 89. His 449 completions and 714 attempts were both Pac-12 and Washington State records. His 4,597 yards were also a school record and his 34 touchdowns tied Ryan Leaf for most in school history. In the 2013 New Mexico Bowl, he threw for 410 yards and six touchdowns in a loss against Colorado State.

2014

On October 4, during his senior season, he set the NCAA FBS passing yardage record by passing for 734 yards in a loss to Cal. Texas Tech quarterback Patrick Mahomes would match this record in 2016. The previous record of 716 yards was set by Houston quarterback David Klingler in the 1990 Coca-Cola Classic. On November 1, Halliday suffered a broken tibia and fibula when his leg got caught underneath USC defensive lineman Leonard Williams, ending his college career.

Statistics

Professional career

Halliday signed with the Washington Redskins on May 2, 2015 after going undrafted in the 2015 NFL Draft. He was released on May 15, 2015, after not showing up to the team's minicamp. It was later confirmed that Halliday had decided to retire. On October 6, 2015, he was signed to the BC Lions' practice squad. He was released by the Lions on October 8, 2015. He was signed to the Montreal Alouettes' practice squad on September 30, 2016. He was released by the Alouettes on October 17, 2016. Halliday signed with the Alouettes on April 17, 2017 and was released on April 19, 2017. Connor decided to retire from pro football after he tore his right rotator cuff in camp with the Alouettes.