Journeyman quarterback Taylor Heinicke, who started 24 games for Washington from 2021-22, has retired from the NFL after a seven-year professional career.
In an Instagram post Thursday, the 33-year-old reflected on his journey: “Many ups and downs throughout the years, but the ups outweigh the downs tenfold. 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.”
Heinicke’s final NFL action came in 2024 with the Los Angeles Chargers, who released him shortly before the 2025 season.
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Taylor Heinicke’s career
Taylor Heinicke enjoyed his most prominent stretch with Washington, going 7-8 as a starter in 2021 and 5-3-1 in 2022 with the rebranded Commanders. Over his career, he also saw action with the Houston Texans (2017), Carolina Panthers (2018), Atlanta Falcons (2023), and Chargers.
A standout at the FCS level for Old Dominion, Heinicke captured the Walter Payton Award and was named FCS Player of the Year in 2012. Undrafted in 2015, he carved out a solid NFL career as a reliable backup and occasional starter. In 42 career games (29 starts), Heinicke posted a 13-15-1 record while completing 62.5% of his passes for 6,663 yards, 39 touchdowns, and 28 interceptions.
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One of his most memorable moments came on Jan. 9, 2021, when he stepped in as an emergency starter for an injured Alex Smith in Washington’s wild-card playoff game against Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Playing in an empty stadium due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Heinicke went 26-of-44 for 306 yards with one touchdown and one interception, while also adding a rushing score in a hard-fought 31-23 loss.
