Max Hall

Max Hall is a former professional football quarterback with the Arizona Cardinals in the National Football League and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers with the Canadian Football League. He also served as a student assistant coach for BYU in 2012. He currently serves as the varsity offensive coordinator at American Leadership Academy High School in Queen Creek, Arizona

Hall was born on October 1, 1985, and grew up in Arizona. He played high school football for the Mountain View Toros. He led the team to the state championship (14-0), earning MVP, offensive player of the year as well as other honors. [1] Hall was named as the All-Arizona quarterback his senior year by the Arizona Republic. He also lettered twice as a guard on the Toro's top-ranked basketball team.

Hall red-shirted as a freshman at Arizona State University and then left to serve a two-year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Iowa. Upon his return in 2006, he transferred to Brigham Young University. Hall had followed John Beck as quarterback at his Arizona high school, and now Beck was the star quarterback for BYU. Beck departed for pro-football in 2007 with four potential quarterbacks vying to replace him. Hall was named starting quarterback with Brenden Gaskins as the backup for the 2007 season.

"Hall was named first-team All-Mountain West Conference as a sophomore after throwing for 3,848 yards, 26 touchdowns, and only 12 interceptions. His 137.7 rating was the 21st best in BYU history, and the fifth best by a sophomore. His 3,848 yards ranked 8th in the NCAA and his 26 touchdown throws tied Hall for 22nd in the NCAA. He was lauded for his poise and maturity so early in his career, including a 4th down and 18 conversion in the year end rivalry game versus Utah. His record in his first season as BYU starting quarterback was 11-2, with a Pioneer Las Vegas Bowl victory over UCLA." (Wikipedia) The 2009 season placed three Mountain West Conference colleges in the top twenty-five, with BYU following powerhouse Texas Christian University and the University of Utah.

On December 1, 2009, Hall was named to the Mountain West Conference football All-Conference Second Team.

After not being selected in the 2010 NFL Draft, Hall signed as a free agent with the Arizona Cardinals. In the preseason Hall competed with John Skelton, another rookie and a 5th round selection from Fordham, for the third-string quarterback spot behind veterans Derek Anderson and Matt Leinart. On September 4, the Cardinals released Leinart and told Hall that he would be the primary backup quarterback behind Anderson for 2010. On October 6, Hall was named the starting quarterback for the Cardinals, and won the first NFL game he started, against the defending Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints. He completed 17 of his 27 passes and pass for 168 yards. The Cardinals won the game 30–20.

Hall's victory over the Saints made him the toast of NFL media outlets. In one interview Hall was asked about his experience at BYU:

"A lot of us go on Mormon missions, so you come, play for a year then leave for two years, and then you come back and you’re back playing again. So really, recruiting and everything’s different, and the atmosphere is different. And at BYU — you know, there’s no professional team in Utah — you’re really treated like a professional quarterback there at BYU. The media attention you get is more like a professional quarterback. So it prepared me a ton for what I’m going through right now, not to mention the type of offense we ran, which was very sophisticated, very complicated and gave me all control. That’s why I think I feel comfortable stepping into this role right now.” [2]

Hall is married to Mckinzi Gissel, and he is the brother in-law of his former Brigham Young University teammate and current Ravens tight end, Dennis Pitta.

Hall had a rough period of his life. In 2014, he was arrested for shoplifting and felony drug possession and consequently lost his job.

When officers handcuffed Hall and put him in a police car for transport to the local police department, he knew he needed help.

“That was a tough pill to swallow,” Hall said. “But looking back on it, it was a blessing. I don’t know if I would’ve stopped without that, without my secret being exposed. I knew this was a huge problem, and I needed some help.

“That’s how I choose to look at it, and I try to own it.”[3]

"Yeah, it was embarrassing, and yeah people will judge me for it. But that’s OK,” Hall told KSL Sports in a one-on-one interview [in 2021] following a session with QB Elite in Sandy. “I want to use my story to help others who are going through the same thing."

“It can happen to anybody. Addiction doesn’t care who you are or what you do. But there is help available. Don’t be afraid to ask for help; just take that first step.”[4]