He was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the seventh round of the 2003 NFL draft, later playing for the Cleveland Browns and the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League (CFL), before retiring in 2010.

In 2001 Dorsey led the Hurricanes to an undefeated 12–0 season and was named the co-MVP of the 2002 Rose Bowl (in which Miami defeated the University of Nebraska) to win the 2001 BCS National Championship.

In 2002, Dorsey was once again a finalist for the Heisman Trophy and led the ‘Canes to a second consecutive undefeated regular season and a national championship game berth in the 2003 Fiesta Bowl.

[3] In his first two seasons in the NFL, he played in nine games (starting in seven), completing 171 of his 316 pass attempts, and throwing for 1,712 yards and eight touchdowns with eleven interceptions.

[6] In May 2006, Dorsey was traded to the Cleveland Browns along with a seventh round pick in the 2007 NFL draft for veteran quarterback Trent Dilfer, after having just re-signed with the 49ers.

[8][9] Frye, Anderson, Quinn, and Dorsey competed for position on the Browns' quarterback depth chart throughout the 2007 NFL Pre-season.

After a disappointing loss to Pittsburgh in Week 1, Frye was traded to Seattle and Dorsey was re-signed by the Browns in a reserve role.

On November 30, 2008, Dorsey was sent into the game against the Indianapolis Colts after Derek Anderson was injured; he threw three passes, two incomplete, the other an interception.

[13] On May 26, 2010, Dorsey signed with the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League, where he backed up former Miami Dolphins quarterback Cleo Lemon.

[21] On January 9, 2018, Dorsey, alongside offensive coordinator Mike Shula, was fired by the Panthers, after spending five seasons with the team.

[22] On March 26, 2018, Dorsey was hired to serve as the assistant director of athletics for the sports program at Florida International University effective April 2018.

[25] Following the 2020 season, Dorsey reportedly was approached by multiple NFL teams including the Seattle Seahawks and the Detroit Lions regarding their vacant offensive coordinator positions.

[26] On February 1, 2022, Dorsey was promoted to offensive coordinator, replacing Brian Daboll, who left to become the head coach of the New York Giants.

At the end of the game, Dorsey was caught on-camera reacting emotionally in the coaches' box, slamming his hat, headset, and Microsoft Surface tablet on the table before the telecast cut away.

[33] On February 10, 2025, the Dallas Cowboys hired Dorsey to serve as their offensive pass game specialist under new head coach Brian Schottenheimer.