Devin Jaymes Gardner[1] (born December 14, 1991) is an American former professional football player who was a quarterback.

He was signed as an undrafted free agent by the New England Patriots of the National Football League (NFL).

During the first half of the 2012 season, he converted to the wide receiver position, but switched back to quarterback after Denard Robinson sustained an elbow injury.

As a sophomore in 2007, Gardner played football for the University of Detroit Jesuit High School and Academy.

Gardner described the problems he experienced in his sophomore year as a turning point: "I had never sat out before, and that hurt a lot.

[3] He was Inkster's starting quarterback under head coach Greg Carter, who led Detroit's Saint Martin de Porres High School to three state championships.

[2] As a junior in 2008, Gardner led Inkster to a state title game and was responsible for 48 touchdowns, 26 passing and 22 rushing.

"[2] After compiling impressive statistics as a junior, Gardner was invited to a number of combines and camps in the Summer of 2009.

His hustle, leadership and athleticism add up to a tremendous maturity that will help him compete early for playing time in Ann Arbor.

"[12] Barry Every, national analyst for Rivals.com, ranked Gardner as the top overall quarterback at the Elite 11 camp based on long-term potential and the ability to win football games,[11] and added, "He may not be as big or fast as current Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor, but he is a close second.

[2][8] In November 2009, Allen Trieu of Scout.com said of Gardner:"He is considered one of the top handful of quarterbacks in the country and is firmly entrenched as a five-star prospect.

"[8]Sources: At end of his senior year in high school, Gardner played in the Under Armour All-America Game.

"[16] Gardner received offers from more than 15 colleges, including Notre Dame, Nebraska, Oregon, West Virginia, Cincinnati, Wisconsin, Iowa, Florida and LSU.

[16] The Detroit Free Press wrote in September 2009 that Gardner's "dual-threat abilities make him an ideal candidate to run Rich Rodriguez's version of the spread offense.

[13] Inkster coach Greg Carter expected Gardner to thrive at Michigan: "We definitely have a similar offense.

[18][19] In December 2009, Tom Luginbill, national recruiting director of ESPN Scouts Inc., said he believed Gardner would compete for Michigan's starting quarterback job in 2010.

He played against Northwestern, Michigan State, and Illinois due to an injury to Robinson, and he also appeared in victories over Nebraska and Minnesota.

Gardner's touchdown pass to Martavious Odoms in Michigan's game against Illinois sealed a victory for the Wolverines.

[21] Following an injury to Denard Robinson's throwing arm in the eighth game of the season against Nebraska, Gardner returned to the quarterback position.

[22][23][24][25] In his second start at quarterback, Gardner led Michigan to a fourth-quarter comeback and a 38-31 overtime victory against Northwestern.

With two seconds remaining in the game, Roy Roundtree caught a 53-yard pass from Gardner to set up a game-tying field goal.

[26][27][28] In the final home game of the 2012 season, Gardner accounted for a career-high six touchdowns in a 42-17 victory over Iowa.

[29] Gardner became the second quarterback in Michigan history to account for six touchdowns in a game, Steve Smith having accomplished the feat in 1981 and again in 1983.

[31] In the season opener against Central Michigan, Gardner completed 10 of 15 passes for 162 yards and a touchdown, though he also threw two interceptions.

[32] In his first game wearing Harmon's jersey, Gardner led Michigan to a 41–30 victory over Notre Dame.

On October 19, 2013 against Indiana, Gardner broke John Navarre's Michigan single-game record with 503 passing yards.

[34] Gardner and Robinson hold nine of the top ten positions on Michigan's all-time, single-game total yardage list (Jake Rudock has the other).

[43] In September 2019 it was announced that Gardner had joined Bally Sports Detroit to be part of their High School Football coverage.