NFL quarterback Taylor Heinicke has called an end to his professional football career, announcing his retirement Thursday after seven seasons in the league.
The 33-year-old signal-caller shared his farewell message on social media, expressing gratitude to fans who supported him throughout his journey with seven different teams, including Minnesota, New England, Houston, Carolina, Atlanta, Washington, and the Los Angeles Chargers.
Heinicke’s most notable chapter came during his stint with Washington, where he compiled a 7-8 record across 15 starting appearances in 2021. His remarkable story began in December 2020 when Washington brought him onto their practice squad as a COVID-19 safety measure, keeping him isolated from the other quarterbacks on the roster.
At the time of Washington’s call, Heinicke was living on his sister’s couch in Atlanta while completing his degree through online courses at Old Dominion University. His most recent football experience had been serving as a backup in the XFL during 2019.
Just one month after joining Washington’s practice squad, Heinicke found himself starting in a playoff game against Tom Brady’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Despite the 31-23 defeat, his impressive performance – 306 passing yards, one touchdown throw, and one rushing score – secured him a starting role for the 2021 season.
“Many ups and downs throughout the years, but the ups outweigh the downs tenfold,” Heinicke wrote. “Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would’ve been able to live this life. … Excited for this next chapter of my life.”
Following his Washington years, Heinicke spent a season with Atlanta before joining Los Angeles for the 2024 campaign. The Chargers cut him last August, and he remained without a team for the rest of the season. During his brief 2024 appearance with the Chargers, he participated in four games with just five pass attempts.
Throughout his NFL journey, Heinicke started 30 games, including that memorable playoff appearance, accumulating 6,969 passing yards with 40 touchdown passes and 29 interceptions. He also contributed three rushing touchdowns to his career statistics.
