Taylor Heinicke, Hero of Washington’s 2020 Wild Card Game, Retires After 10-Year Career

Veteran NFL quarterback Taylor Heinecke is hanging up his cleats.

Heinecke spent 10 years in the NFL, with a brief stint in the XFL. Fans of the Washington Commanders will remember him for his heroic, albeit futile, effort in the 2020 Wild Card game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Heinecke spent last offseason with the Los Angeles Chargers.

“For 25 years, I had the pleasure to play this great sport of football,” Heinicke captioned a post on Instagram.

“It has taught me a lot, not only about myself but about life as well. 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.

“Thank you to all who have supported me in this journey. Thank you all who have believed in me. And thank you to those who gave me the opportunity to live out my childhood dream. Excited for this next chapter of my life! And always, Go Skins!”

A four-year starter at Old Dominion, Heinicke passed for 14,959 yards and 132 touchdowns, and rushed for 1,320 yards and 22 TDs. He owns 33 school statistical records and won the FCS Player of the Year and the Walter Payton Award—referred to as the Heisman Trophy of FCS—in 2012.

Heinicke went undrafted in 2015 but signed with the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent. He served as a backup and did not play a single snap for the team in three seasons.

He spent a brief time with the New England Patriots in 2017 before signing with the Houston Texans. He appeared in just one game and had a single pass attempt—a 10-yard completion, a two-yard rush, and a sack, before he was sidelined with a concussion.

He was signed by the Carolina Panthers in the 2018 offseason. He appeared in six games, then started in Week 16 after Cam Newton went down with an injury. Again, it turned out to be his only start, as he suffered an elbow injury that ended his season.

He finished the 2019 season 35 of 57 passing for 320 yards, a touchdown, and three interceptions; and rushed five times for 31 yards. He rejoined the team in 2019 but was cut before the season.

He was drafted by the St. Louis BattleHawks of the then-XFL in 2020, and backed up starter Jordan Ta’Amu; his contract was terminated when the XFL suspended operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

He landed on the practice squad of the then-Washington Football Team in December 2020. He filled in for Dwyane Haskins in Week 16, going 12 of 19 for 137 yards and a touchdown; he added three rushes for 22 yards.

Alex Smith was named the starter for the regular season finale, but was ruled out for their Wild Card playoff game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Heinicke started that game; he went 26-for-44 passing for 306 yards, a touchdown, and an interception. He also rushed six times for 44 yards and a touchdown.

He kept the game close, but ultimately came up short in what would have been a game-tying drive. The Bucs went on to win Super Bowl LV.

“Everything that happened in the past month and a half, to go out there and do that, I’m proud of myself, happy the coaches believed in me and gave me the opportunity,” Heinicke said at the time. “I hope I can do it next year.”

He argued that his performance merited a chance to prove himself.

“I deserve to be in this league a little longer,” he said at the time. “I’ve been on the other side not playing and it’s not fun, not as fun as this.”

He did. Heinicke signed an extension with the team. Veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick went down during the 2021 season opener, and Heinicke started the rest of the season. He went 7-8 in 15 games, going 321 of 494 for 3,419 yards and 20 TDs with 15 picks. He rushed 60 times for 313 yards and a score.

He backed up Carson Wentz in 2022 and again took his place when Wentz went down with an injury. He went 5-3-1 in nine starts, going 161 of 259 for 1,859 yards, 12 TDs, and six picks. He rushed 28 times for 96 yards and a score.

He signed a two-year deal with the Atlanta Falcons in 2023. He played five games, going 1-3 in four starts and going 74 of 136 for 890 yards, five TDs, and four INTs. He was traded to the Los Angeles Chargers in 2024 and appeared in four games, going 3 of 5 passing for 28 yards. He was cut during final roster cuts in 2025.