Atlanta Falcons sign Oakville quarterback

Oakville native Nathan Rourke will fly with the birds this season.

The Atlanta Falcons announced Thursday (August 1) they have signed the Canadian quarterback to a one-year deal worth $915,000 USD.

Rourke, who worked out with Atlanta on Wednesday, went unclaimed on the NFL’s waiver wire after being released by the New York Giants earlier this week.

The Giants had picked up the 26-year-old pivot on May 7 on waivers from the New England Patriots.

The six-foot-two, 209-pound passer, who spent last season with the Jacksonville Jaguars, is one of four signal callers with the Falcons.

Atlanta signed former Minnesota Vikings veteran Kirk Cousins to a four-year $180 million USD deal to be their starter and drafted University of Washington star Michael Penix Jr. eighth overall in this year’s NFL draft.

Veteran Taylor Heinicke is also on the Falcons roster.

Rourke dressed for six games with Jacksonville last season, passing for 348 yards and one touchdown in the preseason.

He was named the CFL’s Most Outstanding Canadian while leading the B.C. Lions in 2022. Despite missing the who second half of the season with an in injury, he threw for 3,349 yards, 25 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions, while completing 78.7 percent of his passes.

He also rushed 39 times for 304 yards and seven touchdowns.

Rourke and the Falcons will open the preseason on the road against the Miami Dolphins next Friday night (August 9).